What to plant this week in Kingston, ON
Kingston gardeners are officially in the thick of mid-summer harvest, with late frosts not expected until mid-October. This week is prime time to pull your Beefsteak tomatoes, Cabbages, and Sweet Corn before the heat peaks, while keeping an eye on those early-transplanted Banana Peppers ripening on the vine.
The next 7 days
Kingston, ONGrowing in Kingston right now
- Kingston's clay-heavy soils often stay cool in summer; ensure ample mulch around Carrots and Swiss Chard to retain moisture and prevent cracking from erratic rain showers common near the St. Lawrence lowlands.
- With last frost still officially possible until May 1, keep fleece covers handy for any late-blooming Petunias or Zinnia cuttings that might get chilled by a sudden nor'easter front this week.
- The humid microclimate around the Gananoque River valley can promote fungal issues; space out your Cauliflower and Cabbage plants to maximize airflow in this dense, leafy season.
- Take advantage of the long daylight hours for your Sunflower and Pole Bean varieties, which thrive here but may need staking against strong afternoon winds sweeping off Lake Ontario.
Sow this week
6 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like tomatoes and peppers to retain moisture as summer heat sets in.
- Pinch back the tops of young squash plants to encourage bushy growth before they get too large.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for Squash Vine Borer on your Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini; the moist Kingston summers create ideal conditions for these larvae to strike.
- Aphid populations are surging on the new growth of your Fennel, Parsley, and Pole Beans this week, often requiring a quick hose-down or insecticidal soap treatment.
- Late-season fungal leaf spots can plague your Tomato varieties like Beefsteak and Roma; remove lower leaves immediately to improve air circulation.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep soil moist but avoid wetting foliage which invites disease on your leafy greens.
Harvest Banana Peppers and Cayenne Peppers now while they are still small for a spicier, more compact fruit.
Kingston gardening questions
3When should I start harvesting my Banana Peppers in Kingston?
Banana Peppers here ripen slowly even after the first frost date of October 15, so leave them on the plant until they turn a deep red or yellow if you have time, otherwise pick them green now and let them finish indoors.
How do I protect my Sweet Corn from birds in this week's heat?
Place lightweight bird netting over your corn rows immediately; the dry kernels attract flocks quickly during Kingston's hot, humid afternoons when other food is scarce.
Can I still sow Bush Beans or Zinnias now for a fall crop?
Yes, you can sow Bush Beans and Zinnia seeds this week as long as you have at least 40 days of frost-free growth remaining after mid-October, but expect a smaller harvest than an early spring planting.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Kingston garden in SproutGuide →