What to plant this week in Spokane, WA
Spokane gardeners have a narrow window to open your soil now, as the average last frost sits right around April 3rd. With minimum temperatures dipping near freezing this week, focus entirely on planting garlic in our valley loam before the ground hardens again.
The next 7 days
Spokane, WAGrowing in Spokane right now
- Our unique Snake River Plain soils are prone to compaction when wet; avoid heavy foot traffic on freshly tilled beds until they dry out slightly after rain.
- With first frost arriving mid-November, mark your calendar now for late fall harvests of Daikon radish which will freeze-sweeten in our hard winter.
- The high elevation of the Spokane Valley means nights stay cold quickly; ensure new garlic cloves are planted deep enough to avoid any late snow melt heaving.
- Spring planting delays beyond mid-April often result in stunted bulb formation due to insufficient heat accumulation before summer.
Sow this week
1 crops- Garlic
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Garlic
Seasonal tips
- Plant garlic cloves now to ensure a strong spring harvest next year.
- Apply winter mulch around perennials once the soil has frozen solid to protect roots from heaving.
- Divide biennial plants like sweet Williams if they have finished flowering this season.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early aphid colonies forming on emerging bean and pea plants as temperatures rise above 50°F.
- Slugs thrive in our damp spring fog; place beer traps around young transplants if you see signs of feeding damage.
- Fungal diseases like powdery mildew can establish quickly on brassicas if the cool, wet weather persists for more than two weeks.
Watering this week
Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between sessions to prevent root rot in cool, damp conditions.
Mark your sown garlic spots clearly now so you won't forget where they are when digging for spring onions later!
Spokane gardening questions
3Can I start tomatoes indoors this week in Spokane?
No, with our first frost not until Nov 6 and current soil temps near freezing, tomato starts are too vulnerable to transplant shock right now. Wait until mid-May when nights consistently stay above 50°F before moving them outside.
What is the best time to plant garlic for a summer harvest?
This week is your final opportunity; plant hardneck garlic varieties immediately while soil temperatures are still cool but workable. Garlic planted now will establish roots over winter and send up shoots in early spring, yielding bulbs by next July.
Will Daikon radish survive Spokane's harsh winter?
Yes, our local climate is perfect for Daikon as they thrive when exposed to freezing temperatures which sweeten the root. Harvest them anytime between November 6th and early March before the ground freezes solid.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Spokane garden in SproutGuide →