What to plant this week in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia gardeners are currently in a sprint mode, with the average last frost date of March 28 already well behind us and harvests like bush beans and cucumbers ready to pull. While you can still sow summer squashes and sweet corn now for later yields, many warm-season crops from your list are ready to be harvested this week before the heat sets in.
The next 7 days
Philadelphia, PAGrowing in Philadelphia right now
- The city's 'Concrete Jungle' effect creates microclimates that stay 2-4 degrees warmer than surrounding suburbs, allowing you to harvest early tomatoes or extend the season of basil by a few weeks compared to rural areas.
- Watch for heavy spring runoff pooling in low-lying neighborhoods like Fishtown or South Philly; ensure containers and raised beds have excellent drainage before adding fresh soil for your okra and scarlet runner beans.
- Local clay-heavy soils common in parts of Philadelphia can work up into hard clods if the forecast calls for rain, so water early in the morning to let them settle before planting transplants like French marigolds.
- With summer rainfall often concentrated in intense afternoon thunderstorms, use mulch heavily around your zucchini and yellow summer squash plants to prevent soil-borne diseases and keep moisture consistent.
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
- Spider mites are becoming active as temperatures rise on the South Side, particularly on the undersides of your pole beans and sweet corn leaves.
- aphids often explode in populations quickly after warm rains hit the edges of neighborhoods near the Schuylkill River, targeting young zinnia and cosmos seedlings.
- Late spring slugs and snails are still active in damp, shaded garden corners before the heat drives them underground, threatening your basil and nasturtium cuttings.
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.
Philadelphia gardening questions
3When is the best time to plant my sweet corn and bush beans now that the frost danger has passed?
You can sow these seeds directly into the ground today since Philadelphia's average last frost date of March 28 is well behind us. However, ensure the soil feels warm by testing it with your hand for at least a few minutes before sticking in the seedlings to avoid shock.
I have some bush beans and cucumbers ready to harvest; how often should I pick them?
Pick these crops every two days to encourage further production, as leaving them on the vine signals the plant to stop making new pods. For cucumbers specifically, check morning after morning when dew is off, as they can overripen and get bitter quickly in our humid Philly summers.
My French marigolds are listed for both sowing and harvesting; what does that mean?
Since French marigolds are primarily grown as annuals for their flowers rather than a harvestable crop, this listing indicates they can be planted now or picked if you are using them for cut flower arrangements. If you want them to bloom throughout the summer, plant them immediately in well-drained spots away from heavy clay areas.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Philadelphia garden in SproutGuide →