What to plant this week in New York, NY
New York City gardeners are in the thick of summer harvest season, with a wide array of beans, melons, and squash ready to pick from your plots across all five boroughs. While the average last frost date of March 28 is long past, watch for late spring chills that can occasionally linger into April after our typical cool May start.
The next 7 days
New York, NYGrowing in New York right now
- Our urban heat island effect often allows NYC gardens to mature a week earlier than rural upstate counterparts, but sudden cold snaps are still possible in wind-swept parks and exposed rooftop plots.
- Heavy clay soil common in many Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods requires frequent mulching to retain moisture during our humid summer afternoons before the fall dry spells hit.
- With our short growing season ending around November 15, prioritize quick-maturing crops like Bush Beans and Okra now rather than waiting for slow-growers that risk frost damage.
- Wind exposure is a major factor in boroughs like Staten Island and Queens; use sturdy cages immediately for tall plants like Sunflowers and Pole Beans to prevent lodging.
Sow this week
2 crops- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans every two weeks to ensure a continuous harvest through late August.
- Thin seedlings early on okra and watermelon plants to allow remaining specimens room to spread their vines.
- Apply a light layer of compost around established summer squash and zucchini to feed heavy fruiting plants.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming active as temperatures stabilize, particularly on the undersides of Zinnias and Cosmos in our dry, sun-exposed rooftop gardens.
- Aphid populations surge quickly during our humid July afternoons, often attacking newly transplanted vegetables like Cucumber and Melon varieties.
- Late-season slugs remain a persistent threat to young Garlic cloves and tender leafy greens like Malabar Spinach near the Hudson River waterfront.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to keep soil moist without wetting foliage, especially when fruit sets in.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash every two days to prevent them from becoming tough and bitter.
New York gardening questions
3When can I finally stop worrying about frost damage for my summer crops?
While our average last frost is March 28, be cautious in exposed areas until late April if a cold front moves through quickly. Focus on harvesting warm-weather crops like Watermelon and Honeydew Melon now while they are at peak sweetness before any unexpected chill.
My Zucchini plants look healthy but aren't producing enough fruit—what's the issue in NYC soil?
Overcrowding is a common problem in our city gardens; thin out plants to ensure good air circulation and plenty of sunlight. Also, check for cucumber beetles which can transmit wilt disease quickly in our humid microclimates.
Is it too late to plant Garlic for next winter harvest or should I focus on fall crops now?
It is actually the perfect time to plant hardy varieties like Garlic and Winter Squash before the ground freezes, aiming for a November 15 frost deadline. Sow these in well-drained spots immediately as they need several weeks of cool soil to establish roots.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your New York garden in SproutGuide →