What to plant this week in Grand Rapids, MI
With temperatures hovering near the -10°F winter low but frost-free conditions returning by mid-April, Grand Rapids gardeners are entering a critical transplant window for warm-season crops. This week marks the perfect time to move out your Basil, Cucumber, and Zucchini starts while the soil warms up after our typical spring rains.
The next 7 days
Grand Rapids, MIGrowing in Grand Rapids right now
- Watch for heavy afternoon thunderstorms common in West Michigan; use row covers or temporary hoops over young transplants like Okra and Sweet Corn to prevent wind damage.
- Our silty clay loam drains slowly when wet, so ensure containers for your growing edibles have extra drainage holes to avoid root rot on the Watermelon and Pumpkin plants.
- Take advantage of our long summer days by planting your Garlic now, as it needs 90+ frost-free days to mature before our October 17th first frost.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and sweet corn every two weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
- Pinch back the tops of zucchini and squash plants now to encourage more fruit development rather than just vines.
- Cut back dying foliage on basil and borage after heavy harvesting to promote a second, smaller flush of growth.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider Mites are becoming active on newly transplanted Zinnias and Marigolds due to recent dry spells mixed with humidity; spray with insecticidal soap early.
- Watch for Cucumber Beetles targeting your Bush Beans and Cucumbers; hand-pick them in the morning or use a strong stream of water to dislodge them.
- Monitor for Late Blight on your Potato and Nightshade family crops, which thrives when our frequent rain cycles hit during blooming stages.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation while supporting heavy fruit production on melons and squash.
Pull any volunteer weeds immediately around your transplants like edamame and fennel before they compete for nutrients.
Grand Rapids gardening questions
4Can I transplant my Ghost Pepper and Thai Basil starts this week in Grand Rapids?
Yes, these heat-loving plants thrive now that the average last frost date has passed on April 21st. Make sure to water them deeply after planting since our clay soil can hold moisture too tightly for young roots.
What should I do about the slow drainage in my raised beds during wet springs?
Not yet; while you can start harvesting the Zucchini and Pole Beans soon, melons need a few more weeks of warm weather to ripen fully before our October 17th frost.
Are there any specific pests I should watch for on my Okra crop?
Stake tall varieties like Sunflowers immediately and consider using floating row covers over low-growing crops like Bush Beans until they are established.
When is the best time to plant my Garlic if I missed the fall window?
You can still plant hardneck varieties now, but be aware that spring-planted garlic may not bulb up as large before our first frost in mid-October.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Grand Rapids garden in SproutGuide →