What to plant this week in Halifax, NS
With temperatures hovering near the -10°F minimum threshold, Halifax gardeners must hold fire on all spring sowing until after the average last frost date of April 21. This week is purely for hardening off transplants and harvesting summer crops like zucchini, cucumbers, and basil before the late-season chill sets in.
The next 7 days
Halifax, NSGrowing in Halifax right now
- Protect young plants from sudden nor'easter winds common on the Atlantic coast using temporary row covers or fleece.
- Amend sandy coastal soils with compost this week to improve moisture retention during dry spells between rainstorms.
- Delay planting garlic until mid-May; forcing them now risks rot if any unexpected warm fronts hit before soil is truly workable.
- Focus harvest efforts on fast-maturing summer squashes and beans while the soil remains too cold for new starts.
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
- Watch for aphids clustering on the undersides of basil and zucchini leaves, especially after recent rain showers.
- Monitor clover mites around doorways as spring warms up; seal cracks to keep these tiny red pests from entering homes.
- Check tomato plants early in the morning for fungal spots, as Halifax's humid coastal air promotes rapid disease spread.
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.
Halifax gardening questions
3Can I plant my garlic bulbs now since I saw a frost-free weekend?
No, do not plant garlic yet; the ground needs to be consistently warm and dry, which won't happen reliably until mid-May in Halifax. Planting early increases the risk of bulb rot if an unexpected late frost hits or soil stays soggy.
Which of my summer crops should I harvest immediately this week?
Prioritize harvesting zucchini, cucumbers, and bush beans now because they decline quickly if left on the vine too long. Also pick basil, shiso, and nasturtiums before any residual cold from the zone 6a minimum affects their flavor.
Is it safe to transplant seedlings outdoors today?
It is not safe yet; wait until after April 21 when the frost risk passes completely for tender transplants. If you have hardened-off starts, keep them covered with row cloth during the day and remove it only at night once temperatures stay above freezing.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Halifax garden in SproutGuide →