What to plant this week in Springfield, IL
Springfield's gardeners are currently in the thick of harvest season, with an impressive array of peppers, beans, and tomatoes ready to pick as we navigate our Zone 6a climate. While the threat of a late frost has passed for most annuals, keep an eye on your early-maturing crops like peas or lettuce that might still be vulnerable if temperatures dip near our -10°F winter minimum during unexpected cold snaps.
The next 7 days
Springfield, ILGrowing in Springfield right now
- Springfield's heavy clay soil tends to drain poorly in spring; ensure raised beds or amended soil mixes are used for optimal root growth before planting anything new.
- Our humid summers often lead to rapid fungal spread on squash and cucumbers, so focus heavily on air circulation and morning watering schedules during this harvest window.
- The flat terrain of the Sangamon River valley means drainage is your biggest challenge; avoid low-lying areas where standing water can rot root crops like potatoes and rutabagas quickly.
Sow this week
7 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Yellow Summer Squash
- 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 every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Mulch around established tomato and pepper plants to retain moisture as soil temperatures rise.
- Prune dead or diseased foliage from Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts and Kale to improve air circulation.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for Colorado potato beetles on your late-season potato and tomato plants, as they thrive in our humid spring/summer conditions.
- Spider mites may appear on stressed bean varieties if rainfall has been inconsistent this week.
- Late-season slugs can decimate young brassicas like Brussels sprouts before the first hard freeze arrives.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage strong root growth while minimizing fungal disease risk.
Pinch back the tips of young Bush Bean plants if they are leggy to encourage bushier, more productive growth.
Springfield gardening questions
3Can I still plant any new seeds outside now, or should I only focus on harvesting?
It is too late to sow cool-weather crops like peas or spinach as they will not mature before our October 17th frost date. However, you can still direct sow warm-season beans and marigolds if a heavy rain delayed your harvest this week.
How do I extend the life of my tomato and pepper crop past mid-October?
Apply a thick layer of straw mulch around the base to retain moisture and keep fruit clean, but be aware that our first frost date is usually fixed by late October. Consider bringing in potted herbs like basil or parsley indoors if you have space for them.
My squash plants are showing yellow spots on the leaves; what should I do?
In Springfield's humid climate, these symptoms often indicate powdery mildew or early blight common on cucurbits. Remove heavily infected leaves immediately and avoid watering the foliage to stop the fungal spread.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Springfield garden in SproutGuide →