What to plant this week in Wichita, KS
Wichita gardeners are officially in the thick of summer heat, with last frost safely behind us on April 3 and first frost not until November 6. This week is critical for harvesting your warm-weather giants like watermelons, cucumbers, and okra before the mid-July dry spells intensify.
The next 7 days
Wichita, KSGrowing in Wichita right now
- Wichita's native clay-loam soil stays cool deep down, so use broad mulch around squash and melons to prevent root rot during our humid afternoons.
- Our summer rainfall often dumps in short bursts; avoid heavy irrigation late at night to reduce fungal pressure on your zinnias and cosmos.
- Given the intense sun exposure typical of this region, provide afternoon shade cloth for young edamame and bush bean varieties struggling with heat stress.
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
- Watch closely for squash vine borers attacking pumpkin and winter squash vines as soil temperatures climb above 70°F.
- Spider mites can explode rapidly during our dry, windy periods on Zinnias and Sunflowers; spray early in the morning to catch them before they spread.
- Earwigs frequently target tender French Marigolds and Garlic scapes at night; check seedlings for entry holes along the stems.
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.
Wichita gardening questions
3Should I still sow garlic now, or is it too late?
While your garlic crop from earlier in the season is ready to harvest soon, you can still plant a fall crop of garlic now if you want an early spring harvest next year. However, for immediate results, focus on harvesting the listed crops like Bush Beans and Okra first.
My watermelons are ripening fast; how do I know when they are ready to pick?
In Wichita's heat, look for the ground spot directly under the fruit turning a deep creamy yellow and the tendril near the stem drying out completely. Tap the melon; if it sounds hollow rather than solid, it is time to harvest before the next rain knocks them down.
How do I manage the humidity that often hits mid-afternoon here?
Prune any deadheading spent blooms on your Garden Verbena and Cleome immediately after the afternoon storms to improve air circulation. Ensure your trellised Pole Beans have good airflow between rows to prevent powdery mildew in our humid pockets.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Wichita garden in SproutGuide →