What to plant this week in Topeka, KS
With the average last frost in Topeka set for April 21, you are now fully cleared to move your warm-season crops into those classic clay-loam beds that define our High Plains landscape. This week is critical for planting heat-loving giants like melons and okra, while early harvests of basil and beans begin ripening in the warming winds from the plains.
The next 7 days
Topeka, KSGrowing in Topeka right now
- Topeka's heavy clay soil dries slowly in spring; break up hard clods with a rake before transplanting squash or zucchini to ensure proper root penetration.
- Our typical afternoon thunderstorms can wash away young seedlings, so use floating row covers immediately after planting beans and corn until plants establish deeper roots.
- Watch for wind tunnels created by local structures; staking tall sunflowers and pole beans now will prevent lodging during our gusty April showers.
- Amend your beds with compost before adding transplants to help this compacted soil retain moisture without becoming a soggy mess.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- 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 cucumbers every two weeks for continuous harvests through August.
- Mulch heavily around young transplants and newly planted garlic to retain moisture as daytime temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of bush beans and zucchini plants once they reach 6 inches to encourage branching and heavier fruit production.
Pest & disease watch
- Cutworms are actively severing stems of newly planted peppers, eggplant, and squash; check soil collars every evening at dusk.
- Spider mites often surge in our hot, dry spells later in spring, so inspect the undersides of tomato leaves for webbing early.
- Aphids will quickly colonize tender new growth on basil and sweet corn, requiring a gentle water blast or insecticidal soap spray.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash frequently when they are small (6 inches) to signal the plant to keep producing fruit.
Topeka gardening questions
3Is it safe to plant garlic now in Topeka's Zone 6b climate?
Yes, planting garlic before mid-May ensures roots establish before our first frost around October 24. Choose varieties that tolerate slightly cooler starts and dig them in immediately after the soil warms above 50°F.
What should I do about watermelon and cantaloupe struggling with Topeka's clay?
Elevate these heavy feeders on raised beds or mounds to improve drainage, as our native clay tends to hold too much moisture early in the season. Mulch heavily around the base once fruits set to keep soil temperatures consistent.
How do I protect my zinnias and cosmos from our frequent spring winds?
Stake these tall annuals loosely with twine or soft ties immediately after transplanting to prevent stem breakage during gusty weather. Water deeply in the morning so foliage dries quickly, reducing fungal pressure common in our humid afternoons.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Topeka garden in SproutGuide →