What to plant this week in Charlottetown, PE
With the average last frost date in Charlottetown right around May 1, many late spring chills have passed, signaling it is finally time to push hardening-off transplants into your soil. This week marks a critical transition where summer warmth arrives early enough for heat-lovers like zucchini and cantaloupe to take off, while garlic cloves are ready to be tucked away before the ground freezes again in late October.
The next 7 days
Charlottetown, PEGrowing in Charlottetown right now
- Charlottetown's coastal location brings higher humidity and salt spray exposure, so rinse sea kale and leafy greens with fresh water weekly to prevent burning and bolting.
- The clay-heavy soils common on Prince Edward Island benefit from this week's transplanting by adding compost now to improve drainage for squash and melons that hate 'wet feet'.
- Watch for the rapid onset of summer storms; use sturdy stakes immediately for tall varieties like corn, sunflowers, and pole beans which struggle in our gusty conditions.
- Take advantage of the mild maritime winter nights by mulching heavily around garlic and leeks now to keep them dormant until spring, avoiding any top-dressing this late.
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
- Cabbage loopers are likely active on your Brussels sprouts and collards as temperatures stabilize above 50°F, requiring early intervention.
- Aphids often explode in Charlottetown's humid summers on new zucchini and bean growth; inspect undersides of leaves daily this week.
- Late spring fungal issues like powdery mildew can strike celery and cucumbers if the damp coastal air doesn't dry out quickly after rain.
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.
Charlottetown gardening questions
3Is it too late to plant garlic in my Charlottetown garden right now?
No, this is actually one of the best times to plant garlic before the first hard frost hits in October. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and space cloves pointy-side up about 2 inches deep.
What should I do if my zucchini plants are growing too fast for my small backyard plot?
Zucchini produces rapidly once established, so pinch off the very first flower or two until the plant is large enough to support a fruit. This prevents energy from going into small fruits that might rot in our humid summer air.
Can I start seeds indoors next week for my fall harvest vegetables?
Yes, start cool-season crops like parsnips and carrots now since they need long days to mature before the October 15 frost date. For warm-season favorites like sweet corn, wait until mid-May when soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Charlottetown garden in SproutGuide →