What to plant this week in Rochester, NY
With the last frost officially behind us on April 21 and nights finally warming above -5°F, Rochester gardeners can aggressively move warm-season crops like basil, okra, and southern peas into the ground this week. The city's clay-loam soil is holding moisture well for these early plantings, but watch for rapid temperature swings typical of our Finger Lakes microclimate.
The next 7 days
Rochester, NYGrowing in Rochester right now
- Rochester's heavy clay subsoil drains slowly; amend planting holes with compost to prevent root rot in newly transplanted squash and beans.
- Our lake-effect weather can drop temps suddenly; cover tender starts like cosmos and zinnia with row cloth if a cold front moves in after the 21st.
- Take advantage of the current humidity window to sow bush beans and cucumbers directly; they struggle to establish in dry, compacted city soil.
- Be patient with garlic planted this week; it needs the fall cool-down to bulb up properly before our first frost on October 24.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- 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)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and cucumbers every two weeks for continuous harvests through August.
- Mulch heavily around young transplants and newly planted garlic to retain moisture as daytime temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of bush beans and zucchini plants once they reach 6 inches to encourage branching and heavier fruit production.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season aphid colonies forming on the undersides of new bean and pea leaves as temperatures rise above 50°F.
- Spider mites may appear stressed by dry spells in late spring, particularly on young sunflower and cosmos seedlings near exposed urban lots.
- Slugs will target low-growing nasturtiums and malabar spinach; apply copper tape or hand-pick them early morning when they are active.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash frequently when they are small (6 inches) to signal the plant to keep producing fruit.
Rochester gardening questions
3Can I plant garlic now that the frost date has passed?
Yes, garlic thrives in our October 24 frost window if planted before mid-April to establish roots before summer heat. Ensure you use a well-draining mix since Rochester's native clay tends to hold too much water for clove storage.
Which of the listed crops should I prioritize for immediate harvest?
Bush beans and sweet corn are ready for sowing now, with yields possible in 6-8 weeks given our Zone 6b timeline. Basil and borage can also be transplanted immediately to catch the long summer days before the October freeze.
How do I handle watering for container crops like edamame or scarlet runner beans?
Container soil dries out much faster than in-ground Rochester clay, so check moisture daily during sunny stretches. Mulch heavily around the base of potted squash and pumpkins to retain water as we move toward mid-summer.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Rochester garden in SproutGuide →