What to plant this week in St. Louis, MO
St. Louis gardeners, it is officially time to plant garlic cloves in the ground for a summer harvest, while your Daikon radishes are reaching maturity and ready for pulling within days. With last frost historically occurring around April 3rd, the cool air we have been holding onto is finally breaking, signaling that winter dormancy is over for our local plots.
The next 7 days
St. Louis, MOGrowing in St. Louis right now
- Our heavy clay loam in St. Louis holds moisture well but drains slowly, so ensure your new garlic planting spots are raised beds or amended with plenty of organic matter to prevent rot during the humid Missouri spring.
- Watch out for late-season frost pockets in low-lying areas near the Mississippi and Missouri rivers; even after April 3rd, cold snaps can still dip near freezing before mid-April.
- Take advantage of this week to harvest your Daikon radishes now, as they are prone to becoming woody if left too long in our variable spring soils.
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
- Monitor for onion thrips on emerging garlic leaves, which can cause silvering and stunted growth during this critical establishment phase.
- Keep an eye out for flea beetles on any transplanted greens or brassicas that might be starting to appear in sheltered microclimates.
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!
St. Louis gardening questions
3Can I plant my spring vegetable seeds now in St. Louis?
Not yet; while the air warms up, our soil temperature is likely still too cold for reliable germination of warm-season crops like tomatoes or peppers until late April.
My Daikon radishes are growing fast; should I water them heavily?
Yes, consistent moisture is key to keeping St. Louis radishes from splitting in our clay-heavy soil, but avoid overwatering which can lead to rot.
When exactly should I stop worrying about frost damage for next spring?
While the average last frost is April 3rd, be prepared to cover tender seedlings with row fabric until mid-April just in case of a sudden freeze.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your St. Louis garden in SproutGuide →