What to plant this week in Scranton, PA
Scranton gardeners in Zone 6b are navigating a transitional week where the ground is still firm from recent rains, but warm-weather harvests like Beefsteak tomatoes and cucumbers are ripening fast. With an average last frost date of April 21 well behind us, you can focus on pulling late-maturing crops while prepping beds for the upcoming summer sowings like bush beans and zinnias.
The next 7 days
Scranton, PAGrowing in Scranton right now
- Scranton's clay-heavy soils typical of the Lackawanna Valley hold moisture tightly; water deeply but infrequently to avoid rotting roots on squash and melons currently in the field.
- Take advantage of the mild weather between April 21 and Oct 24 by starting those fall favorites like Brussels sprouts indoors now, as they need a long season to mature before our first frost around October 24.
- The steep slopes common in Scranton yards can cause rapid runoff; consider planting cover crops like borage or scarlet runner beans along the contour lines to stabilize soil and add nitrogen.
- Since transplant lists are empty for this week, hold off on moving delicate seedlings until next month when temperatures consistently stay above 50°F overnight.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- 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 and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer.
- Mulch around young tomato and pepper plants to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise above 80°F.
- Thin carrot and beet seedlings now to prevent overcrowding and ensure sturdy root development.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for aphids clustering on the undersides of bean leaves, especially as bush beans and pole beans begin their rapid growth phase in our humid microclimates.
- Slugs are active in Scranton's damp basements and gardens right now; protect your young zucchini and yellow summer squash with copper tape or diatomaceous earth.
- Monitor tomato plants for early blight spots on older leaves, which thrive in the occasional cool, wet spells we get before the deep heat sets in.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to encourage deep root growth and reduce evaporation losses during this hot season.
Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are milky and firm, not yet hard or fully browned, for peak sweetness.
Scranton gardening questions
3Can I plant my bush beans and pole beans now, or do I need to wait?
You can sow bush beans directly into the ground right now since our soil temperatures are safe for Zone 6b. However, wait until next week to start pole beans as they prefer slightly warmer soil to get off to a strong run.
When should I stop harvesting my zucchini and yellow summer squash?
You can keep picking zucchini and yellow summer squash throughout this entire growing season up to our average first frost date of October 24. Regularly harvesting encourages the plant to produce even more fruit rather than stopping growth.
Is it safe to start my fall Brussels sprouts indoors now?
Yes, starting Brussels sprouts indoors is an ideal way to beat our typical first frost around late October. Give them about 6-8 weeks of indoor growth before hardening them off and transplanting them out in mid-to-late summer.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Scranton garden in SproutGuide →