What to plant this week in Lexington, KY
Lexington gardeners are officially in the heat zone, with last frost averaging April 3rd and summer squash or beans ready to be pulled from the soil this week. The hot, humid summers typical of our Bluegrass region mean you must prioritize shade for tender crops while maximizing sun for your melons and okra.
The next 7 days
Lexington, KYGrowing in Lexington right now
- Our clay-heavy loam retains moisture well but drains poorly in spring; if rain is forecast, ensure raised beds or amended soil to prevent root rot on those newly transplanted summer savory plants.
- Lexington's rolling terrain often creates cold pockets near the Knobs; check your microclimates carefully before planting heat-loving items like cucumbers and zinnias in low-lying areas.
- The high humidity this time of year encourages fungal issues, so space out your pole beans and sweet corn to improve airflow and reduce disease pressure.
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
- Spider mites are becoming active on basil and shiso as temperatures climb above 85°F, especially if there has been a dry spell between rains.
- Squash vine borers target your cucumbers, pumpkins, and zucchini this week; inspect stems for oozing frass and consider wrapping plants with row cover until flowering.
- Japanese beetles are likely to swarm your sunflowers and cosmos, skeletonizing leaves rapidly if not managed manually or with beneficial nematodes.
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.
Lexington gardening questions
3Can I still start garlic from seed in Lexington this week?
No, it is too warm for starting new garlic bulbs now; you should have planted them after the last frost in late October to establish before winter dormancy. Focus instead on harvesting your existing fall-planted garlic soon as the leaves begin to yellow.
My cantaloupe and honeydew vines are growing fast—how do I protect the fruit?
Train your melon vines onto trellises or cages off the ground in Lexington's heavy clay soil to keep fruit clean and prevent rot from our frequent summer rains. Ensure they get at least 6-8 hours of direct sun daily for best sugar development.
What should I do with my bush beans that are flowering but not setting pods?
This is often due to stress or poor pollination caused by humidity; gently shaking the plants in the morning can help move pollen, and adding a little Epsom salt to your watering routine may encourage pod formation.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Lexington garden in SproutGuide →