What to plant this week in Scranton, PA
With temperatures hovering above the -5°F winter minimum, Scranton gardeners are entering a critical window where the ground is finally warm enough to move transplants and sow heat-lovers. The average last frost date of April 21 has passed, signaling that you can confidently plant out your summer vegetables like zucchini, cucumbers, and beans without fearing a late freeze.
The next 7 days
Scranton, PAGrowing in Scranton right now
- Scranton's valley terrain often creates cold air pockets near the Lehigh River; ensure south-facing slopes for your early tomatoes and peppers to avoid frost lingering after April 21.
- The local clay-heavy soil retains moisture well but drains slowly during our spring rains, so amend beds with compost before planting water-intensive crops like cantaloupe and pumpkins this week.
- Take advantage of the current warmth to start sowing warm-season giants immediately; sunflowers, corn, and okra need consistent heat that we are finally seeing in zone 6b now.
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 aphid colonies forming on the new growth of basil and nasturtium as temperatures stabilize above average.
- Monitor squash vines closely for fungal issues since our humid spring weather combined with clay soil can encourage powdery mildew on zucchini and cucumbers.
- Slugs and snails may still be active in shaded, damp areas near your garden beds if heavy rains occurred over the weekend.
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.
Scranton gardening questions
3Can I plant my garlic now that the frost dates have passed?
While the average last frost is April 21, garlic loves cool soil and should ideally be planted earlier; however, you can still get a decent fall crop if you push it into the ground immediately this week.
Which of these harvest-ready plants need full sun versus partial shade in Scranton?
Heavy producers like bush beans, corn, squash, and pumpkins require at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight to thrive here, whereas leafy greens like Malabar spinach and celery can tolerate afternoon shade.
How do I protect my transplants from the occasional late chill after April 21?
Use floating row covers over your newly planted zucchini or marigolds during any sudden drop in temperature, removing them once daytime highs consistently stay above 60°F to allow proper pollination.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Scranton garden in SproutGuide →