What to plant this week in Burlington, VT
Burlington gardeners are in the final stretch of summer warmth, with frost-free days remaining until October 15th to finish your late crops. Focus immediately on harvesting your summer squashes and beans while preparing cold frames or row covers for those fall favorites like Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and leeks.
The next 7 days
Burlington, VTGrowing in Burlington right now
- Protect young transplants from the frequent Burlington afternoon thunderstorms that can wash away soil; use light plastic mulch or temporary hoops to shield delicate seedlings growing in our often clay-heavy shoreland soils.
- Take advantage of the long daylight hours right now to plant your fall garlic cloves this week, as they need a full season of cold stratification before our harsh January lows hit.
- Be mindful that our lake-effect moisture can create humid microclimates around the Willamette Peninsula; ensure good air circulation for your cucumbers and melons to prevent fungal issues on the north side of town.
- Start planning your winter succession now by sowing indoor seeds for next year's broccoli and kale, as our soil will be frozen solid well into late spring.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- 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)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- 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
- Harvest bush beans, cucumbers, and yellow summer squash regularly to encourage continued production.
- Deadhead spent flowers like cosmos and zinnia to keep the plants looking tidy and blooming longer.
- Check on garlic scapes if planted early this spring; it's time to harvest them soon.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for cucumber beetles and aphids on your remaining squash and bean varieties before night temperatures drop significantly.
- Monitor for Japanese beetles which may still be active in sunny microclimates near the lake before dormancy sets in.
- Keep an eye out for spider mites on indoor-started seedlings as humidity levels begin to fluctuate with our changing weather patterns.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated during this warm growing season while letting soil dry slightly between sessions.
Pinch back any leggy basil or shiso plants now to promote bushier growth before the heat peaks.
Burlington gardening questions
3Can I still plant garlic this week in Burlington?
Yes, this is the ideal time to set your fall garlic cloves in the ground before the first hard freeze of early December. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and space them about two inches apart for a strong spring harvest.
What should I do with my zucchini and yellow squash that are still growing?
Start harvesting these every other day to encourage more production before the first frost on October 15th. If any fruit is too large or damaged, cut them away from the plant so they don't rot and spread disease in our damp summer air.
Is it safe to bring my container dahlias into storage now?
You should wait until after the first hard frost on October 15th when the leaves have completely yellowed, as digging them up too early can shock the tubers. Once dug, cure them in a dry spot for two weeks before storing in peat moss or vermiculite at a cool temperature.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Burlington garden in SproutGuide →