What to plant this week in St. Paul, MN
St. Paul gardeners are in the thick of summer harvest as early frost dates have passed, making this a critical week for pulling cool-season crops like carrots and collards before soil temperatures drop too low. With nights cooling toward the zone 5a average minimum of -20°F by winter, focus now is on maximizing yields from your established tomatoes, peppers, and beans while protecting emerging sunflowers and zinnias from occasional late thunderstorms.
The next 7 days
St. Paul, MNGrowing in St. Paul right now
- The Metro area's heavy clay soils hold moisture well but drain slowly; if rain persists this week, avoid deep watering to prevent root rot in squash and beans, opting instead for side-dressing dry compost around tomato plants.
- St. Paul's urban heat island effect allows some southern slopes to warm faster than the riverfront parks, so check your basil and shiso daily—if leaves curl from afternoon heat stress, provide temporary shade cloth until evening.
- Watch soil compaction in older neighborhoods with high bed density; loosen the top inch around fennel and dill roots before adding fertilizer to encourage better nutrient uptake for your fall harvest crops like rutabaga and garlic.
- This week's rainfall pattern often brings wind from the west, which can tip over tall sunflowers; stake them immediately if they show signs of leaning rather than waiting for a storm.
Sow this week
2 crops- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fava (Broad) Bean
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Napa Cabbage
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shallot
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing bush beans and snapdragons every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Deadhead Cosmos and Cleome regularly to encourage more blooms throughout the summer.
- Thin out carrot and beet seedlings now to give remaining plants enough room to mature.
Pest & disease watch
- Cutworms are actively attacking young squash and zucchini seedlings along the bluffs; collar plants with cardboard tubes or hand-pick them at dusk before they sever stems.
- Aphid outbreaks on bean poles (both bush and pole varieties) can spread quickly in warm St. Paul summers; spray with a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap early in the morning to avoid burning leaves.
- Late-season powdery mildew may appear on cucumbers and leafy greens if humidity stays high after rain; improve airflow by thinning crowded rows and dusting affected plants with baking soda solution.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots cool and reduce evaporation during this hot season.
Harvest your first ripe cherry tomatoes today to enjoy their peak flavor while they are young and tender.
St. Paul gardening questions
3Can I still plant zucchini or summer squash now, or is it too late for a full harvest?
Yes, you can sow Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini immediately as they thrive in current heat, though expect harvest to start later this month rather than early. Ensure seedlings get deep watering to help them establish roots before the next potential frost near late October.
When should I stop harvesting cool-season crops like beets and cabbage to avoid cold damage?
Begin picking your beets, carrots, and collard greens now while plants are still tender, as temperatures will drop quickly after this week. If a hard freeze approaches before you can finish them, cover the beds with frost cloth or bring container-grown varieties like Swiss chard indoors temporarily.
My tomatoes in St. Paul have started ripening unevenly; should I remove any green fruit?
Leave small green fruits on the vine to mature naturally unless they are damaged by pests or disease, as they will likely finish ripening with proper care. Apply a light layer of mulch around the base to keep root zones cool and retain moisture during these fluctuating summer days.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your St. Paul garden in SproutGuide →