What to plant this week in Tacoma, WA
With average last frost now behind us on March 1, Tacoma gardeners can aggressively push forward with warm-season giants like sweet corn and watermelon while the Pacific Northwest summer heat finally arrives. This week marks the perfect window to sow heat-lovers like okra and bush beans directly into your rain-fed soil, which is currently drying out after the spring showers.
The next 7 days
Tacoma, WAGrowing in Tacoma right now
- Tacoma's notoriously heavy clay soils benefit from a light layer of compost before sowing heavy feeders like squash and melons to ensure proper drainage for these heat-loving crops.
- Take advantage of our specific microclimate near Puget Sound by planting tall sunflowers or pole beans early in the season; they will act as natural windbreaks against the lingering maritime breezes common this time of year.
- Since we are in Zone 8b with a long growing window, do not wait for mid-July to start your second succession of bush beans; sow them now alongside the existing harvests listed for soon.
Sow this week
30 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
39 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for continuous harvests.
- Mulch around young summer squash and watermelons to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of zinnias and cosmos to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for aphids on the new growth of French marigolds and garden verbena as temperatures rise above 60°F.
- Monitor watermelon and cucumber vines for powdery mildew, which thrives in our humid coastal air when plants are stressed by dry heat waves.
- Keep an eye out for cutworms attacking young bean seedlings if heavy rain has recently softened the soil surface.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated and reduce evaporation during hot afternoons.
Harvest bush beans when pods are tender but before they begin to flower or turn woody.
Tacoma gardening questions
3Can I finally move my garlic bulbs into the ground now?
No, wait until late autumn or early spring; while garlic is listed in your harvest list, it is currently too warm and dry to plant successfully in Tacoma's clay soil.
Should I cover my sweet corn with a frost cloth at night?
Hill your soil mounds slightly above grade before sowing watermelon seeds to ensure excellent drainage, as saturated ground will cause these tropical plants to rot quickly.
Since our last average frost was March 1, is it safe to leave row covers on the corn?
Not necessary anymore; the risk of damaging frost has passed and removing the fabric will allow better air circulation to prevent fungal issues in our humid climate.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Tacoma garden in SproutGuide →