What to plant this week in Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach gardeners in Zone 8b are entering a high-activity week with the last frost officially behind us on March 1, allowing immediate planting of warm-season crops like okra and squash. With minimum temperatures holding steady around 15°F overnight and highs climbing rapidly, now is the critical time to sow beans and cucumbers directly into your sandy dunes soil before the humidity spikes.
The next 7 days
Virginia Beach, VAGrowing in Virginia Beach right now
- Focus on amending your native coastal sand with generous amounts of compost or peat moss immediately; pure sand drains too fast for new seedlings like bush beans and zucchini.
- Take advantage of the current dry spell to start seeds indoors if you missed the window, but be ready to harden off transplants by mid-week as we move past the average last frost date.
- Monitor moisture levels closely after rain events; Virginia Beach's porous soil dries quickly in the sun, causing newly sown Malabar spinach or nasturtiums to wilt within hours if not watered.
Sow this week
13 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 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
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Mulch around newly planted squash and zucchini to retain moisture as days get warmer.
- Thin out crowded seedlings of sunflowers and sweet corn to ensure proper air circulation.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming active on the sunny south-facing dunes as temperatures rise above 70°F, particularly targeting young French marigolds and summer savory.
- Watch for thrips feeding on the tender leaves of your newly sown pole beans and cucumbers before they set fruit.
- Prevent powdery mildew on zinnias and cosmos by spacing plants wider than usual to improve airflow in our humid coastal air.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage strong root growth while keeping foliage dry to prevent disease.
Snip off spent flowers from your yellow summer squash plants every few days to keep them producing more fruit.
Virginia Beach gardening questions
3Can I finally plant my okra and bush beans now in Virginia Beach?
Yes, since the average last frost date has passed for March 1, you can directly sow these heat-loving crops today. Just ensure you water them deeply right after planting to settle the sandy soil around their roots.
My zucchini seedlings are wilting quickly in the afternoon sun; is this normal?
This is likely a sign of rapid evaporation from our porous dune soil rather than disease, so water early in the morning before the heat peaks. If they continue to wilt after watering, you may need to provide temporary shade cloth for the hottest part of the day.
Should I harvest my garlic or wait another week?
You can begin harvesting your garlic now if the bulbs feel firm and the necks are softening, but leave the rest in the ground until mid-summer. Leaving some bulbs to mature ensures a better storage crop for your winter kitchen.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Virginia Beach garden in SproutGuide →