What to plant this week in Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga gardeners are in the thick of mid-summer abundance this week, with the city's humid valley heat pushing a wide variety of warm-season crops like okra and malabar spinach toward their peak harvest. With last year's frost date well behind us on March 13, your focus shifts entirely to maximizing yield before the November 28 chill arrives.
The next 7 days
Chattanooga, TNGrowing in Chattanooga right now
- The city's unique confluence terrain creates microclimates where north-facing slopes cool faster than south banks; check soil moisture carefully on those shaded ridges to prevent drought stress in zinnias and marigolds.
- Chattanooga's heavy clay soils retain water well during our humid spells but can bake hard in afternoon sun; incorporate organic matter into raised beds for zucchini and yellow summer squash to improve drainage.
- Rainfall often dumps heavily during the July storm season, so ensure your bush bean and pole bean trellises are wind-secure before thunderstorms roll off the Appalachian foothills.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- 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 bush beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest through summer.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around squash to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- Pinch back the tips of basil plants regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites can explode in our city's hot, dry microclimates this week, especially on French marigolds and nasturtiums planted near pavement.
- Late-season squash vine borers may attack zucchini and pumpkin vines now that the heat has accelerated their life cycle; inspect stems for frass holes regularly.
- Slugs thrive in Chattanooga's humidity, targeting young Malabar spinach and basil leaves overnight before they reach harvestable size.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the early morning to reduce evaporation and fungal risks.
Harvest leafy greens like malabar spinach and nasturtiums young and tender for the best flavor.
Chattanooga gardening questions
3Is it too late to start transplants in Chattanooga this week?
Since our last frost average is March 13, you can technically transplant everything hardy now if the soil warms up, but wait for a clear day after any predicted rain showers to avoid root shock on tender greens.
What do I harvest from my current garden this week?
Focus your picking on basil, bush beans, cucumbers, okra, and watermelons which are ready right now, while also checking for ripe cantaloupe and honeydew melons that need a quick cut.
How does the city's humidity affect my corn and squash?
High humidity speeds up fungal growth on sweet corn and summer squash leaves, so space plants widely for airflow and dust off foliage in the morning to reduce disease pressure before harvest.
Other cities in zone 8a
11See the full zone 8a guide → · Plan your Chattanooga garden in SproutGuide →