What to plant this week in Kelowna, BC
With average last frost now safely behind us on April 3, Kelowna's warm valley air is calling gardeners to move those heat-loving transplants like basil, zucchini, and edamame into the sun. While our spring soil tends toward clay that holds moisture well, the risk of late frosts can still sneak in before mid-April, so watch your tender seedlings closely.
The next 7 days
Kelowna, BCGrowing in Kelowna right now
- The deep, sometimes heavy clay soils common in the Okanagan Valley drain slowly; amend raised beds with coarse sand or organic matter to prevent waterlogging during our frequent spring showers.
- Our valley location creates distinct microclimates where south-facing slopes warm up early for tomatoes and peppers, while north-facing gardens may still be cool enough for a late cover crop.
- Expect significant temperature swings between the hot afternoon sun and crisp nights; mulch heavily around squash and melons to keep roots stable as we approach our first frost date of November 6.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
37 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
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Thin out overcrowded seedlings to give remaining plants room for air circulation and sun.
- Apply a light layer of straw mulch around warm-weather crops to retain soil moisture during heat waves.
- Practice succession sowing with fast-maturing beans or radishes every two weeks to extend your harvest window.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on new growth of the French marigolds and nasturtiums you're planting now, especially in sheltered backyard spots.
- Monitor cucumber and squash plants closely for early powdery mildew spores, which thrive when our humid spring nights meet warm days.
- Check transplanted beans and corn stems for cutworms, a persistent issue in Kelowna gardens as seedlings emerge from the soil.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the early morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases on wet foliage.
Harvest basil leaves regularly by pinching off stems just above a leaf pair to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering.
Kelowna gardening questions
3Can I plant garlic now even though it's late for most spring crops?
Yes, this is actually an ideal time to set out hardneck garlic varieties before our typical November 6 frost date. Garlic needs several weeks of cool ground time to establish roots before the winter chill hits.
Which warm-season vegetables should I get into the ground this week in Kelowna?
Focus on your harvest list items like bush beans, cantaloupe, and sunflowers which thrive once the soil warms up after our last frost around April 3. These crops need that consistent warmth to germinate quickly without struggling.
How do I protect my young zucchini from the unpredictable cool snaps common in the valley?
Use black plastic mulch or floating row covers immediately upon planting to trap solar heat during those sudden temperature drops. Remove the covers once daytime highs consistently stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit to allow proper air circulation.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Kelowna garden in SproutGuide →