What to plant this week in Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids gardeners are in the sweet spot of late spring to early summer, with soil finally warming enough for warm-weather crops like basil and zucchini after our typical April 21 frost date. The lingering chill from last week's dips toward single digits means you must wait until all danger passes before moving those tender transplants out of your protected areas.
The next 7 days
Grand Rapids, MIGrowing in Grand Rapids right now
- Grand Rapids' clay-heavy glacial soil retains moisture well but requires generous compost to improve drainage for these newly listed warm-season beans and squash varieties.
- While the city's flat terrain allows for easy planting, keep an eye on low-lying pockets near the Grand River where frost can linger later than the city average of April 21.
- Take advantage of our typical May rainfall pattern by mulching heavily around your new potatoes and water-loving okra to suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture during dry spells.
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
- Spider mites often emerge on the new Basil, Marigolds, and Zinnia as temperatures stabilize in this region, requiring early monitoring before populations explode.
- Late-season flea beetles may target your newly transplanted Beans and Cucumbers if spring rains were excessive, so check undersides of leaves daily.
- Powdery mildew is a primary threat to the Cucumber, Melon, and Squash varieties listed for harvest soon if humidity remains high in our valley microclimates.
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.
Grand Rapids gardening questions
3Can I plant my Garlic cloves now that we are past the frost date?
No, wait; your Garlic should have been planted earlier in the fall for a spring harvest, though you can still start bulbs indoors for a late summer crop if they aren't ready yet.
What's the best way to support my Pole Beans and Sweet Corn in this climate?
Install trellises or corn stalks immediately as you transplant, because Grand Rapids' strong summer winds can easily topple young plants before they establish deep roots.
When exactly should I stop watering my Winter Squash and Summer Squash varieties?
Water consistently until the first frost date of October 17, but reduce frequency once fruit begins to color up to prevent splitting or rotting.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Grand Rapids garden in SproutGuide →