What to plant this week in Kingston, ON
Kingston gardeners, the calendar is officially flipped to autumn as we race against the October 15th frost date to pull our final harvests. With lows dipping toward -15°F in winter, this week is critical for securing Daikon radishes and garlic before the ground freezes solid.
The next 7 days
Kingston, ONGrowing in Kingston right now
- Focus exclusively on harvesting Daikon Radish now; any other vegetable left in the soil will likely bolt or freeze before you can dig it up.
- Begin hardening off your Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus) seedlings immediately, as transplanting them after mid-May leaves zero margin for error with our short growing season.
- Garlic is ready to be planted soon; ensure you are working in well-drained soil on the sandy ridges typical of the Thousand Islands frontage to prevent rot before winter.
- Do not attempt any new sowings this week, as the ground temperature has dropped too low for viable germination.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
4 crops- Daikon Radish
- Garlic
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
Seasonal tips
- Finish sowing cold-hardy greens now to maximize yields before the soil warms up significantly.
- Prepare raised beds by adding compost ahead of time so they are ready for transplanting in June.
- Plan your succession schedule for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant to ensure a continuous summer harvest.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on young Roselle leaves; a strong spray of water is usually sufficient to dislodge them before they weaken the plant.
- Monitor garlic beds for onion maggots or fungal issues like smudge disease, which thrive in our damp autumn air near the St. Lawrence River.
Watering this week
Water deeply and consistently now that the ground has thawed, aiming for about 1 inch per week to encourage strong root establishment.
Apply a light layer of mulch around transplants once they are in the ground to retain moisture as the soil temperature fluctuates.
Kingston gardening questions
3Can I still sow seeds this week in Kingston?
No, the soil has cooled significantly and there are no cold-hardy crops listed to sow now; attempting to plant will result in failed germination before winter sets in.
When should I stop harvesting Daikon Radish?
You must harvest these immediately this week because the approaching frost dates of October 15th will damage the roots and make them woody.
Is it safe to transplant Roselle now or do I wait until next spring?
If you have starter plants ready, transplant them into permanent beds today; delaying until after May 1st risks frost damage since our last average frost occurs right then.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Kingston garden in SproutGuide →