What to plant this week in Lincoln, NE
Lincoln gardeners are deep in the heart of summer as the city's hot, dry winds push temperatures well above average for Zone 6a. With frost dates long behind us and heat waves common through late July, now is the prime window to harvest your summer squashes, melons, and beans before a potential late-October chill ends the season.
The next 7 days
Lincoln, NEGrowing in Lincoln right now
- Combat Lincoln's notorious 'Lincoln Breeze' by staking tall crops like sunflowers, zinnias, and pole beans early to prevent wind shear damage on these open prairie plains.
- Soil in this part of Nebraska often becomes crusty under intense sun; loosen the top inch with a fork or hand rake before planting transplants like edamame or basil to ensure good root contact.
- While rainfall is sporadic, monitor moisture closely for thirsty crops like cantaloupe and honeydew melons; water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation from the dry air.
- Take advantage of this week's harvest list by picking garlic scapes (if applicable) or finishing root crops like parsnips before the ground hardens, though most summer veggies are ready now.
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 thrive in Lincoln's low humidity and high heat; inspect the undersides of beans and squash leaves for stippling or fine webbing.
- Corn earworms remain active on sweet corn, flour corn, and sunflowers; check heads daily for silk damage and consider row covers if pest pressure is high.
- Cutworms often appear suddenly in open fields near city limits, cutting down seedlings of transplants like okra and tomato relatives at night.
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.
Lincoln gardening questions
3When should I stop watering my summer squash to prepare for winter storage?
Stop watering zucchini, yellow summer squash, and pumpkins about two weeks before your intended harvest date. This allows the skin to thicken and the fruit to mature fully without developing water-soaked spots or rot.
Is it safe to transplant garlic now in Lincoln's climate?
Yes, this is an ideal time for garlic transplants as the soil has warmed up but isn't yet too hot. Plant cloves 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart; they will establish roots before the ground freezes again in November.
How do I protect my basil from the sudden heat spikes common in Lincoln?
Basil loves heat but struggles with scorching direct afternoon sun during peak summer. Provide sheer shade cloth or move pots to a location receiving morning sun and late afternoon dappled light.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Lincoln garden in SproutGuide →