What to plant this week in Portland, ME
With the average last frost date in Portland, ME falling around April 21 and current temperatures hovering near the -10°F winter minimum baseline for zone 6a, this week marks a critical transition from late-season cleanup to aggressive fall harvesting. Gardeners should prioritize pulling cool-weather crops like Brussels sprouts and parsnips before hard frosts set in after October 17, while noting that no new transplants are viable until spring warming occurs.
The next 7 days
Portland, MEGrowing in Portland right now
- Protect garlic and scallions with heavy mulch immediately; Portland's rocky loam drains well but freezes hard, risking root damage if left exposed.
- Focus energy on harvesting 'harvest_soon' items like Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini before the first frost of Oct 17 knocks their yield down.
- Avoid planting any new seedlings now; despite late summer warmth, the soil is cooling rapidly, making it a wasted effort compared to indoor seed starting for next spring.
- Take advantage of the mild nights typical of mid-October in Maine to finish maturing root crops like beets and carrots before ground freeze.
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
- Monitor for late-season aphids on remaining beans and peppers as cooler weather slows their reproduction but doesn't stop infestations entirely.
- Watch for slugs and snails feasting on tender leafy greens and nasturtiums during the damp, mild nights common in Portland's fall season.
- Check tomato plants for late blight symptoms, which can spread quickly through Maine gardens with the current cool, moist weather pattern.
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.
Portland gardening questions
3Can I still transplant tomatoes or peppers this week in Portland?
No, you cannot transplant anything now as the 'transplant_now' list is empty and soil temperatures are dropping too fast for root establishment. Wait until next spring after April 21 when the threat of a -10°F snap has passed.
When should I start harvesting my winter squash to store them over the Maine winter?
Harvest your Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini immediately while they are still green and tender, as true hard-shell storage varieties aren't listed for this week's schedule. If growing pumpkins or stored squash, wait until after a light frost kills vines but before a deep freeze damages the fruit.
Is it too late to sow bush beans in Portland this season?
Yes, sowing Bush Beans now is futile because the ground will freeze solid shortly after any initial sprouting attempt. Reserve your bush bean seeds for indoor starting next February or direct seeding once soil warms above 50°F in spring.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Portland garden in SproutGuide →