What to plant this week in Toronto, ON
Toronto gardeners are currently in a harvest frenzy as mid-summer heat peaks, with the garden bursting with ready-to-pick produce like Beefsteak tomatoes and bush beans. While the soil is warm enough to sow late-season warmth-lovers like Okra and Malabar Spinach now, be mindful that the average last frost date of April 21 means early spring starts are well past their waiting period. With nights cooling slightly toward our -5°F winter lows still far away, focus on maximizing yields before the October 24 first frost arrives.
The next 7 days
Toronto, ONGrowing in Toronto right now
- Toronto's heavy clay-loam soils in areas like Etobicoke and North York can become waterlogged during summer storms; ensure raised beds have excellent drainage for crops like Zucchini and Bush Beans to prevent root rot.
- The city's intense urban heat island effect accelerates growth on south-facing balconies, so monitor Watermelon and Honeydew Melons closely to avoid fruit splitting from rapid expansion.
- Our short growing season requires strategic succession planting; pull finished early harvests of Carrots and Snap Peas immediately to replant with quick-maturing Bush Beans or Nasturtiums before autumn rains set in.
- While frost dates suggest late April is safe for outdoor starts, wind exposure around the Gardiners' Expressway or Lake Ontario shoreline can damage tender seedlings like Cleome; provide temporary windbreaks if planting outside now.
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
- Aphids are exploding on new growth of Tomato and Eggplant plants this week due to high humidity; inspect undersides of leaves daily and blast them off with a strong water spray.
- Spider Mites are becoming active in the heat, particularly on Zinnia and Marigold beds exposed to full sun on downtown patios where natural predators struggle to thrive.
- Japanese Beetles are feasting on the flowers and leaves of Shiso and Cosmos; hand-pick them in the early morning when they are sluggish before placing them in soapy water.
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.
Toronto gardening questions
3Can I still start Okra or Malabar Spinach outside now?
Yes, both are listed as sowing candidates this week because Toronto's soil has warmed sufficiently and there is no risk of a late frost after our April 21 average. Sow seeds directly into the ground after ensuring the top inch feels warm to the touch.
When should I start bringing my balcony tomatoes inside for winter?
With an average first frost date of October 24, you must move container-grown tomatoes indoors by late October, ideally within a week of that date. Place them in a sunny spot and keep soil moist to extend your harvest into early November if possible.
My Zucchini plants are wilting rapidly after last night's rain; is this normal?
This is likely root rot or fungal pressure caused by our local clay-heavy soils staying saturated during summer downpours. Immediately improve drainage by adding coarse compost to the soil surface and stop watering until the top 2 inches of earth feel dry.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Toronto garden in SproutGuide →