What to plant this week in Albany, NY
Albany gardeners are in a critical transition phase this week, with the average last frost date of April 21 right around the corner. While soil temperatures have finally warmed enough to harvest warm-season crops like zucchini and bush beans, you must still wait out the chill before sowing any new seeds or moving tender transplants outside.
The next 7 days
Albany, NYGrowing in Albany right now
- Protect late-spring plantings from sudden nor'easters common in Central New York by using row covers until the soil consistently stays above 50°F.
- Albany's often heavy clay soils benefit from a top-dressing of compost now to improve drainage for root crops like potatoes and parsnips you are ready to harvest or tend.
- Take advantage of this brief warm window to start your fall garlic planting, as the ground is finally thawing enough for roots to establish before winter.
- Focus on harvesting your summer squash and watermelons now, but be mindful that a late frost can still damage fruit if temperatures drop near freezing again.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
45 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- 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 and sweet corn every two weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and okra to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering too early.
- Add a thin layer of straw or shredded leaves around heavy feeders like pumpkins and squash to retain moisture.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for cucumber beetles and flea beetles attacking your newly emerged pole beans and snap peas as they emerge from the ground.
- Monitor leafy greens and brassicas for early aphid colonies, which thrive in the humid springs typical of the Hudson Valley.
- Check squash plants for gummy stem borers, a common issue in Albany gardens where high humidity favors larval development.
Watering this week
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, applying it deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and disease risk.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash early in the day when they are most tender and flavorful for your table.
Albany gardening questions
3Can I plant tomatoes or peppers outside this week?
No, you should wait until after April 21 when the danger of frost has truly passed and soil temperatures are stable above 60°F. Starting indoors now is risky as a sudden late spring freeze could kill young seedlings.
What should I do with my garlic bulbs right before planting?
Now is the perfect time to plant hardneck garlic varieties, but ensure you soak them in water for 24 hours first to rehydrate after winter storage. Plant them about two inches deep and space them three to four inches apart.
How do I extend the harvest of my zucchini before a frost?
Pick your yellow summer squash every one or two days to signal the plant to produce more fruit before temperatures drop below 50°F. If you see large melons or pumpkins forming, consider covering them with clear plastic to ripen them early.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Albany garden in SproutGuide →