What to plant this week in Manchester, NH
Manchester gardeners are deep in the heart of summer, with average first frost still two months away on October 17th. This week marks a critical window to harvest your last heat-loving crops like Okra and Yellow Summer Squash before the late-season cool spells slow their production.
The next 7 days
Manchester, NHGrowing in Manchester right now
- The Collyer River valley often retains soil moisture longer than upland areas, so ensure drainage around low-lying tomato and pepper beds to prevent rot.
- With average minimums hovering near -10°F in winter, mulch heavily now to protect overwintering garlic and parsnip roots from any unexpected early freeze events.
- Our clay-heavy loam can become slick when wet; use wide boards or gravel paths in wet spots of your raised beds to prevent compaction during heavy June rains.
Sow this week
7 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
58 crops- Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Honeydew Melon
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Marconi Pepper
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Serrano Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Mulch around established tomato and pepper plants to retain moisture as soil temperatures rise.
- Prune dead or diseased foliage from Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts and Kale to improve air circulation.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for Squash Vine Borer on your Zucchini and Cucumber plants, as the heat accelerates their life cycle and they will bore into stems rapidly.
- Watch closely for Bean Leaf Beetles feeding on your Bush Beans and Lima Beans; hand-pick them early in the morning when they are most visible.
- Check under broad leaves of Brussels Sprouts and Tomatoes for Japanese Beetle grubs, which thrive in our humid summer conditions.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage strong root growth while minimizing fungal disease risk.
Pinch back the tips of young Bush Bean plants if they are leggy to encourage bushier, more productive growth.
Manchester gardening questions
3Can I still transplant my French Marigolds and Nasturtiums now that it is past April?
Yes, these heat-loving annuals thrive in our current temperatures and can be sown directly into the soil right now as they germinate quickly and tolerate light frost if young.
My Potato and Sweet Corn plants look stunted; should I add more fertilizer or water?
Check soil moisture first, as Manchester's clay soils dry out slowly in summer heat, then apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer to encourage tuber bulking and corn tasseling.
What is the best time to start harvesting my Beefsteak tomatoes and Roma varieties this week?
Harvest when fruit yields slightly to touch and shows full color; late-season rains can cause cracking, so pick ripe fruits indoors if heavy rain is forecasted for Manchester later in the week.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Manchester garden in SproutGuide →