What to plant this week in Hamilton, ON
Hamilton gardeners are in the final sprint before autumn locks up, as your last frost date has passed and temperatures dip toward the -5°F winter minimum. This week marks the critical harvest window for heat-loving crops like basil, okra, and melons that need warmth to finish maturing before the October 24th first frost hits.
The next 7 days
Hamilton, ONGrowing in Hamilton right now
- Protect late-season squash and pumpkins from Hamilton's notorious early fall frosts with row covers or cold frames tonight to extend your harvest by a few weeks.
- The clay-heavy soils typical of the Niagara Escarpment foothills hold moisture well, so avoid overwatering these transplants; instead, mulch heavily to conserve heat as nights cool rapidly.
- Take cuttings now for perennials like Garden Verbena and Shiso (Japanese Basil) before freezing temperatures arrive, or propagate them indoors to start next spring's crop early.
- Watermelons and cantaloupes need consistent moisture this week to sweeten up; ensure your irrigation is steady despite the cool air slowing down root uptake.
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 cucumbers every two weeks for continuous harvests through August.
- Mulch heavily around young transplants and newly planted garlic to retain moisture as daytime temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of bush beans and zucchini plants once they reach 6 inches to encourage branching and heavier fruit production.
Pest & disease watch
- Slugs thrive in Hamilton's damp August nights, especially on soft crops like lettuce and basil; set out beer traps or hand-pick them early morning.
- Spider mites can explode on stressed cucurbits (cucumbers, squash) during hot dry spells between cool snaps; spray with insecticidal soap if webbing appears under leaves.
- Late-season powdery mildew may show up on melons and beans in the humid valley air near the Great Lakes; ensure good airflow by thinning dense plantings.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash frequently when they are small (6 inches) to signal the plant to keep producing fruit.
Hamilton gardening questions
3Can I still sow seeds for next year's garden while harvesting late crops this week?
Yes, use this harvest window to clear space for cool-weather crops like kale or spinach that can handle Hamilton's September chill. Focus your energy on pulling mature squash and beans rather than starting new sowings in the ground.
My basil is flowering and turning bitter; should I cut it back before the frost?
Definitely pinch off those flower buds immediately to redirect energy back into leaf production for that last big harvest. If you have a greenhouse or cold frame, you can extend the season by moving these transplants inside.
When exactly should I start bringing in my winter squash and pumpkins?
Harvest once the vines begin to die back naturally and the rinds harden, but pull them up before any hard freeze occurs on Oct 24. Cure your gourds and squash in a dry, sunny spot for about two weeks after digging to toughen the skin.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Hamilton garden in SproutGuide →