What to plant this week in Topeka, KS
With Topeka's average last frost date around April 21, you are now past the danger of late spring chills and well into the heart of your summer harvest window. This week marks a critical transition where your mid-season crops like tomatoes and peppers demand peak care while heat-loving sowers such as okra and cucumbers take root in our clay-heavy soil.
The next 7 days
Topeka, KSGrowing in Topeka right now
- Our local black clay soil retains moisture well but drains poorly during heavy thunderstorms; ensure raised beds or amended soil for newly planted squash and beans to prevent root rot.
- Topeka's intense afternoon sun can scorch delicate basil and fennel quickly, so provide temporary afternoon shade cloth if recent temperatures spike above 90°F.
- Because frost dates are late in April, avoid planting cool-season transplants like Brussels sprouts or parsnips now as they will bolt before the first hard freeze on October 24.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- 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 and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer.
- Mulch around young tomato and pepper plants to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise above 80°F.
- Thin carrot and beet seedlings now to prevent overcrowding and ensure sturdy root development.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on new growth of your French marigolds and zinnias; spray with neem oil early in the morning to protect pollinators.
- Spider mites often explode on summer savory and tomato plants during Topeka's dry, windy days; hose them down gently or dust leaves with insecticidal soap.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to encourage deep root growth and reduce evaporation losses during this hot season.
Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are milky and firm, not yet hard or fully browned, for peak sweetness.
Topeka gardening questions
3Can I plant okra seeds this week in Topeka?
Yes, okra loves our hot summers and thrives when sown directly into the warm ground now. Ensure you water deeply after planting since our clay soil can dry out quickly between rain events.
When should I expect my beefsteak tomatoes to ripen?
Your current tomato plants are entering their peak fruiting phase, so look for large, fully colored fruits ready to pick within the next two weeks. Keep an eye on birds who love the ripe red flesh of these varieties.
Is it too late to start my fall garden in Topeka?
It is actually a perfect time to sow cool-season crops like bush beans and scarlet runner beans that will mature before our October 24 frost. However, avoid starting transplants for next year's garlic now; instead, focus on harvesting existing parsnips and rutabagas if they are large enough.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Topeka garden in SproutGuide →