What to plant this week in Newark, NJ
Newark gardeners, your average last frost date of March 28 means the worst chill is behind you, making this a prime week to plant warm-season heat lovers like okra and watermelon directly in the ground. With soil temperatures finally warming up across Hudson County, it's time to get those transplants and seeds in before the next cool snap.
The next 7 days
Newark, NJGrowing in Newark right now
- Newark's clay-heavy soils from the glacial till erode easily; amend your beds with compost and apply a thick layer of mulch immediately after planting to retain moisture and prevent washing out during spring rainstorms.
- The city's urban heat island effect can trick you into thinking it's warmer than the surrounding Passaic River valley; check soil temp before sowing cool beans like edamame to avoid shock from sudden cold nights.
- Watch for standing water in low-lying pockets of the city where the terrain slopes toward rivers and creeks, as saturated roots on squash and melons will rot quickly after heavy April showers.
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 aphid colonies forming on the undersides of new cucumber and zucchini leaves as temperatures stabilize above 50°F.
- Spider mites can be an issue in our dry microclimates near the Passaic River, especially if you skip watering during this windy period.
- Be vigilant for cutworms on young bean seedlings planted directly in the ground; check stems at dawn before they disappear into the soil.
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.
Newark gardening questions
3When is the safest time to plant my okra and watermelon seeds?
With our average last frost around March 28, you can safely sow these warm-season crops this week as long as your soil feels crumbly and not cold. Wait until after a dry spell if recent rains have left the ground soggy in our clay-heavy Newark soils.
Can I transplant my tomato seedlings now that the frost danger is passing?
No, the list of plants to 'transplant now' is empty because young tomatoes and other cool-season transplants are still too vulnerable to tonight's potential dips toward 5°F. Keep them indoors or under a protective row cover until early May when nights consistently stay above 40°F.
My zucchini leaves are turning yellow and shrinking; what should I do?
This is likely squash vine borer, which thrives in our humid Newark summers by tunneling into the stems. Cut off the affected plant at the soil line immediately to stop the spread to your neighbors' plants.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Newark garden in SproutGuide →