What to plant this week in New York, NY
With the last frost officially behind us in New York City this week, gardeners can aggressively sow warm-season giants like Sweet Corn, Watermelon, and Cantaloupe directly into the soil. The urban heat island effect is already pushing temperatures up, making this the perfect window to start harvesting your first Zucchini and Bush Beans while protecting tender starts from sudden cool snaps.
The next 7 days
New York, NYGrowing in New York right now
- Utilize concrete-heavy microclimates on rooftops or small lots in Brooklyn and Manhattan to get a head start on Okra and Malabar Spinach, as these areas retain heat longer than the surrounding boroughs.
- Amend the city's notoriously compacted clay subsoil with generous amounts of compost before planting deep-rooted crops like Sweet Corn and Squash to ensure drainage.
- Take advantage of the typical April-May rainfall patterns by waiting for a dry morning before harvesting heavy fruits like Pumpkins or Watermelons to prevent rotting at the stem.
- Monitor wind exposure in open lots along the Hudson River; use tall poles or mesh to protect delicate Zinnias and Pole Beans from spring gusts that are common after rain events.
Sow this week
27 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
48 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- 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)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks to extend your summer bean harvest.
- Apply a light mulch around newly transplanted squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil plants regularly now that they are established to encourage bushier growth.
- Prepare for a second planting of fast-maturing crops like radishes or lettuce if you missed an earlier window.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season aphids clustering on new growth of Bush Beans and French Marigolds, which thrive in the city's humid pockets.
- Keep an eye out for cutworms damaging the base of young transplants like Garden Verbena and Shiso in vegetable patches.
- Monitor for slugs and snails feasting on low-growing Nasturtiums and Malabar Spinach during damp, overcast afternoons.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants each morning to encourage deep roots while preventing fungal diseases on foliage.
Harvest your okra early in the morning when pods are tender, as they become tough and stringy later in the day.
New York gardening questions
3Is it safe to transplant my cold-hardy perennials or tender annuals out of the house yet?
No, the average last frost date for New York is still March 28, so wait another week before moving anything sensitive outside. However, you can sow warm-weather seeds like Basil and Borage directly now since they germinate quickly in this zone.
How do I handle the soil compaction common on small NYC lots when planting large squash?
Break up the dense subsoil to a depth of at least 12 inches and mix in plenty of compost before setting out Yellow Summer Squash or Zucchini. This improves drainage and allows roots to expand despite the limited space typical of city gardens.
What should I do if my Potato harvest is ready but nights are still cool?
You can begin digging up your Potatoes now, as they appear on the 'harvest soon' list for this week, but avoid washing them until you bring them indoors. Let the skins harden in a dry, shaded spot for a few days to extend their storage life before moving them into root cellars.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your New York garden in SproutGuide →