What to plant this week in Seattle, WA
Seattle gardeners in zone 9a are deep into the warm, wet growing season as last frost passed on Feb 6. This week marks a critical harvest window for summer squashes and beans before the typical late-summer rains arrive to slow growth.
The next 7 days
Seattle, WAGrowing in Seattle right now
- Protect low-lying slopes and valley floors from heavy runoff erosion common in Seattle's steep terrain during this rainy period.
- Drainage is essential for all edamame, pole beans, and sunflowers listed for harvest soon, as waterlogged soil here causes rapid root rot.
- Delay planting any new transplants until a dry spell occurs; the ground remains saturated from the frequent Pacific storm systems.
- Focus on harvesting acorn and butternut squash immediately to prevent rot in the damp microclimates typical of this week's forecast.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- 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
- Succession sow fast-maturing crops like Daikon Radish or Ornamental Allium to extend your season's variety.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like Okra and Bush Beans to retain moisture as summer heat intensifies.
- Deadhead Zinnias and Cosmos regularly to encourage continuous blooming for pollinators.
Pest & disease watch
- Slugs and snails are actively devouring young nasturtiums and zinnia seedlings in the high humidity of this coastal zone.
- Spider mites may appear on fennel and basil if a brief dry spell breaks up the constant moisture, making leaves dusty and stunted.
- Watch for squash vine borers attacking the harvested butternut and delicata squashes, especially near compost piles or tree lines.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation, especially during hot spells.
Harvest Edamame and Green Beans every two days to keep plants producing their best pods.
Seattle gardening questions
3Can I plant garlic now in Seattle's zone 9a?
No, garlic is already listed under 'harvest soon,' meaning your crop should be pulled before the first frost date around Dec 15. Planting new cloves now would result in overwintered bulbs rather than a spring harvest.
Which crops from this week's list handle Seattle's frequent rain best?
Daikon radish and ornamental alliums are ideal for sowing right now as they tolerate wet soil better than most warm-season beans or melons currently in the garden.
When should I stop watering my watermelons and honeydew melons listed for harvest soon?
Reduce irrigation significantly two weeks before picking to toughen the rinds, but be careful not to let plants wilt during Seattle's typical dry spells between storm systems.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Seattle garden in SproutGuide →