What to plant this week in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh gardeners are currently in a transition window where the last frost average of March 13 has likely passed, allowing you to focus on harvesting your warm-season crops that are nearing maturity this week. While the air is warming up toward the Nov 28 first frost date, keep an eye on overnight lows hovering near 10°F during colder snaps to protect late plantings like Garlic and Ornamental Allium.
The next 7 days
Raleigh, NCGrowing in Raleigh right now
- Raleigh's Piedmont clay soils can become heavy when wet; work in compost now to improve drainage for your squash and melon varieties that are ready for harvest soon.
- With rainfall often concentrated in short, intense storms common across North Carolina, ensure trellises for Pole Beans and Cucumbers are securely anchored before the next downpour.
- Take advantage of the current window to sow Garlic and Ornamental Allium immediately if you missed the earlier dates, as they need time to establish roots before summer heat sets in.
Sow this week
2 crops- Garlic
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Harvest acorn, butternut, and spaghetti squash while they are still tender before the skins toughen up.
- Succession sow bush beans, cowpeas, and pole beans now to extend your bean harvest into late summer.
- Pinch back basil and borage regularly to encourage lush growth and prevent bolting as heat increases.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites often explode on hot, dry days in Raleigh, so inspect the undersides of your Zinnias, Cosmos, and Celosia leaves daily this week.
- Late-season squash vine borers may be targeting your Acorn Squash and Butternut Squash plants; check for wilting stems and cut worms to remove larvae immediately.
- Aphids frequently cluster on new growth of Okra and Malabar Spinach in our humid climate, making them easy targets for a strong water spray or insecticidal soap.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of squash and melons every 2-3 days to keep fruits from cracking and foliage from rotting.
Don't forget to harvest garlic that is listed for both sowing now and harvesting soon, as it may be a late spring crop or early fall storage bulb depending on your specific microclimate.
Raleigh gardening questions
3When can I safely start my spring Garlic and Ornamental Allium now?
You can sow these immediately since Raleigh's last frost average is March 13 and current temperatures are warming up; plant them in well-drained soil to prevent rot before the summer heat arrives.
Which of my heavy-harvest vegetables should I pick first this week?
Prioritize your Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, Zucchini, and Bush Beans as they are listed for harvest soon; these crops taste best when gathered at peak maturity rather than left on the vine too long.
How do I protect my Okra and Malabar Spinach from our local pests?
Inspect your plants daily for aphids or spider mites, which thrive in Raleigh's humidity, and treat infestations early with a strong stream of water or organic insecticidal soap to save the crop.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Raleigh garden in SproutGuide →