What to plant this week in Victoria, BC
Victoria's mild 9a climate means frost is long gone, allowing you to aggressively harvest summer staples like zucchini and acorn squash while sowing cool-season radishes in the damp soil. This week marks the peak of the growing season where warm-weather crops are ready for immediate picking, even as late-flowering blooms begin their display.
The next 7 days
Victoria, BCGrowing in Victoria right now
- The region's notorious maritime fog often cools evenings by several degrees; check your frost-sensitive harvests like basil and okra twice daily to prevent cold damage.
- Victoria's heavy clay soils retain moisture well but can become waterlogged during our wet spring transitions, so ensure good drainage before planting new seedlings for the fall crop.
- Take advantage of the long daylight hours in this part of BC by extending your day length for tomatoes and peppers if you are still nurturing them indoors or under cover.
Sow this week
2 crops- Daikon Radish
- Ornamental Allium
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Acorn Squash
- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Butternut Squash
- Cantaloupe
- Celosia (Cockscomb)
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Morning Glory
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Spaghetti Squash
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow fast-maturing crops like Daikon Radish or Ornamental Allium to extend your season's variety.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like Okra and Bush Beans to retain moisture as summer heat intensifies.
- Deadhead Zinnias and Cosmos regularly to encourage continuous blooming for pollinators.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphids thrive on the abundant soft-leafed plants like nasturtium and zinnia, especially when humidity is high from recent rains.
- Slugs and snails will target young daikon radish seedlings in damp garden beds, requiring immediate physical barriers or organic deterrents.
- Powdery mildew can quickly develop on cucurbits like butternut squash if the air remains stagnant and humid during our typical coastal breezes.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation, especially during hot spells.
Harvest Edamame and Green Beans every two days to keep plants producing their best pods.
Victoria gardening questions
3When should I harvest my winter squash to store for the long haul?
Allow your acorn, delicata, and pumpkin varieties to fully mature until their skins are hard enough not to dent when scraped with a fingernail. Cut them from the vine leaving several inches of stem attached before curing in a warm, dry spot for two weeks.
Can I still sow seeds now for a fall crop despite the mild weather?
Yes, you can start daikon radish and ornamental alliums immediately as they prefer cooler temperatures that will arrive later this season. Plant them directly into well-drained soil where they can germinate without competition from summer weeds.
Why are my basil plants bolting so early in the season?
Victoria's unpredictable weather fronts can sometimes trigger premature flowering if daytime highs spike above 85°F while nights remain cool. Harvest leaves regularly to delay this process and consider providing afternoon shade during our hottest spells.
Other cities in zone 9a
9See the full zone 9a guide → · Plan your Victoria garden in SproutGuide →