What to plant this week in Trenton, NJ
With the last frost date averaging April 3 in Trenton, you are well past the danger of late spring chills and can aggressively focus on this week's massive harvest window. From Bush Beans to Watermelons, your garden is ready for a heavy pick, signaling that summer production is at its peak before the first frost hits around November 6.
The next 7 days
Trenton, NJGrowing in Trenton right now
- Trenton's flat floodplain soil retains moisture well; check drainage carefully after our typical afternoon thunderstorms to prevent root rot in edamame and squash. The clay-heavy loam common here compacts easily, so aerate heavily around zucchini roots before adding compost for this week's harvest.
- Since we rarely see snow cover in late spring like further north, watch your early transplants from last week; if a hard freeze drops below 0°F unexpectedly on the few remaining chilly nights, use row covers immediately to protect young greens.
- Utilize the extended warm days Trenton enjoys by planting quick-maturing crops like French Marigolds and Nasturtiums as living mulch around your heavy feeders like okra and pumpkins.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
37 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- 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 or carrots every two weeks to extend your summer harvest window.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and Italian herbs like summer savory to encourage bushier growth before frost.
- Start planning your fall crop rotation; avoid planting nightshades in beds that held them last year.
- Apply a light layer of compost around perennials now to strengthen roots for winter dormancy.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor aphids on Zinnias and Sunflowers closely; the dry heat we often get in June makes these colonies explode quickly if not treated with neem oil.
- Watch for cucumber beetles on your Cucumber, Squash, and Melon crops this week, as they can transmit bacterial wilt which is devastating to pumpkins in our humid summers.
- Spider mites may appear on the undersides of Shiso and Thai Basil leaves during dry spells between rain events.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated during heat waves while reducing fungal risks on leafy greens.
Harvest watermelons when they make a hollow sound upon tapping, ensuring you get the sweetest fruit before the first frost hits.
Trenton gardening questions
3When exactly should I harvest my Bush Beans vs. Lima Beans in Trenton?
Harvest Bush Beans while pods are tender and beans inside make a snap when bent, usually 25 days after planting; wait until Lima Beans fill out to their full size for the best flavor, which takes about two weeks longer.
How do I prevent powdery mildew on my Zucchini and Squash this week?
Since Trenton gets heavy dew in the mornings, water your squash plants at the base early in the day rather than overhead to keep leaves dry, and dust them with a thin layer of baking soda solution.
Can I still plant Garlic now that it is past the frost date?
While most varieties are best planted in late summer or fall for winter growth, you can still start 'softneck' garlic indoors now if you want a spring harvest, though it will be smaller than fall-planted bulbs.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Trenton garden in SproutGuide →