What to plant this week in Peoria, IL
Peoria gardeners are deep in the heart of summer 2024, racing to harvest your final crop of Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash before the first frost hits around October 17. While you can still sow quick-growing Bush Beans or Nasturtiums for a late-season crunch, the real work this week is pulling up warm-weather crops like Okra and Corn to make room for fall favorites like Brussels Sprouts and Parsley.
The next 7 days
Peoria, ILGrowing in Peoria right now
- Peoria's flat terrain often leads to cold pockets where frost can arrive early; check your specific microclimate before leaving tomatoes in the ground near October 17.
- Our local soils tend to be heavy clay with poor drainage, so ensure you aren't overwatering newly transplanted Sweet Corn or digging too deep when planting fall Garlic.
- Expect a typical mid-summer dry spell common across Central Illinois; water deeply but infrequently rather than frequent shallow watering to encourage strong root growth in Zucchini and Watermelon.
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
- Watch for Squash Vine Borers attacking your Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini, as these pests thrive in our humid summers and can quickly kill the plant.
- Monitor your Potato and Sweet Corn crops for Corn Earworms, which are currently active and will target your remaining ear production before harvest.
- Check the undersides of your Basil and Tomato leaves for Aphid colonies that often build up during this heatwave.
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.
Peoria gardening questions
3Can I still start seeds outdoors in Peoria this week?
Yes, you can sow Bush Bean, Cucumber, French Marigold, Nasturtium, Okra, Yellow Summer Squash, and Zucchini directly into the ground now since the soil is warm enough.
What should I harvest immediately to beat the upcoming frost?
Start gathering your Anaheim Pepper, Beefsteak Tomato, Beet, Bell Pepper, Cantaloupe, Carrot, and Sweet Corn today while they are at peak flavor.
Is it too late to plant anything for winter greens in Peoria?
Not yet; you can still sow Brussels Sprouts, Parsley, and Scallions now so they establish roots before the hard freeze sets in around mid-October.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Peoria garden in SproutGuide →