What to plant this week in Halifax, NS
With an average last frost date of April 21, Halifax gardeners are officially in the final stretch for late summer harvests before the October 17 freeze. This week is critical for bringing in heat-loving crops like watermelon and okra to avoid sudden temperature drops, while garlic needs immediate planting as soil cools.
The next 7 days
Halifax, NSGrowing in Halifax right now
- Utilize raised beds or black plastic mulch to combat our notoriously wet spring turning into cool, damp summers that slow down root growth for potatoes and beans.
- Be prepared for heavy Atlantic storms; secure loose trellises for pole beans and squash vines before the weekend rain arrives common in Nova Scotia.
- Drainage is often an issue on our clay-heavy coastal soils, so ensure containers and garden beds have excellent airflow to prevent root rot on dahlias and zinnias.
- Take advantage of microclimates near older stone buildings or south-facing slopes to extend the harvest window for bush beans and sweet corn past mid-September.
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
- Monitor for aphid colonies forming on the undersides of basil, cosmos, and nasturtium leaves as humidity rises.
- Check cucumber and squash vines for powdery mildew spores which thrive in Halifax's humid coastal air when temperatures hover around 20°C.
- Watch closely for cutworms damaging young tomato and bean seedlings if you are planning to transplant any remaining starter plants.
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.
Halifax gardening questions
3Can I still plant garlic this week given the cool weather?
Yes, this is actually the ideal time; get those clove sets into well-drained soil before the ground freezes hard in early December. Choose a sunny spot and space them about 4 inches apart for a strong winter stand.
How do I protect my watermelon and cantaloupe from the coming frost?
You must harvest these immediately this week as an overnight freeze will ruin the fruit quality within hours. Pick them slightly green if necessary to ensure they ripen fully indoors before the October 17 average first frost.
What vegetables are safest to leave in the ground versus bringing inside right now?
Leafy greens and root crops like parsnips, leeks, and carrots can stay outdoors through light frosts until snow arrives, but tender crops like okra and basil must be pulled immediately. Harvest your winter squash and pumpkins before the first hard freeze to allow their skins to toughen for storage.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Halifax garden in SproutGuide →