What to plant this week in Virginia Beach, VA
With last frost officially averaged for March 1, Virginia Beach gardeners are in full swing harvesting summer staples like watermelon, cucumbers, and okra this week. The coastal heat is already pushing early frosts of the season, so focus your energy on picking those acorn squash and butternut varieties before any unexpected chill sets in.
The next 7 days
Virginia Beach, VAGrowing in Virginia Beach right now
- Our sandy, acidic coastal soils drain quickly during our frequent summer thunderstorms; add compost now to help retain moisture for your thriving sunflowers and zinnias.
- The intense salt air can dehydrate young foliage on transplants, so mist your basil, Thai basil, and borage in the early morning if humidity feels low.
- Extend your harvest window by mulching around your winter squash and pumpkins to keep the soil cool for as long as possible before the first hard freeze.
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 bush beans and cowpeas every two weeks for a continuous harvest through late summer.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like corn, squash, and melons to retain moisture and suppress weeds as temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tops of basil and borage regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for aphids clustering on the new growth of your pole beans and sweet corn, especially after warm nights.
- Monitor squash plants for cucumber beetles which are actively damaging leaves and introducing bacterial wilt this time of year.
- Check the undersides of leafy greens like Malabar spinach and purslane for thrips feeding damage.
Watering this week
Provide deep, consistent watering at the base of plants every 2-3 days to prevent blossom drop on squash and melons.
Harvest acorn and butternut squash when they have fully ripened and developed a hard rind for best winter storage.
Virginia Beach gardening questions
3When is the best time to plant my fall garlic bulbs in Virginia Beach?
Now is an ideal time to sow your garlic cloves, as they need several weeks of cold soil temperatures before the ground freezes hard. Plant them about two inches deep with the pointed end facing up for a strong harvest next summer.
How do I keep my watermelons and honeydew melons from splitting in our humid weather?
Water deeply but consistently every few days rather than giving frequent shallow watering to prevent the fruit from cracking under stress. Mulching heavily around the base of the vines helps regulate soil temperature and moisture retention.
Can I still start seeds for next year's garden now in August?
While outdoor sowing is no longer viable, you can start cool-season crops like Daikon radish indoors or in a cold frame to transplant after the first frost. Use this week to plan your crop rotation, especially noting where heavy feeders like corn and squash were planted.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Virginia Beach garden in SproutGuide →