What to plant this week in New York, NY
New York gardeners are in the thick of late spring bloom, with New York City's specific microclimates offering a window to sow warm-season crops like Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini while harvesting early basil before the weekend heat spikes. Despite our urban concrete islands raising local temps by several degrees compared to the mainland, be mindful that our heavy clay soils and limited drainage in neighborhoods like Brooklyn or Queens can cause root rot if you overwater these tender transplants.
The next 7 days
New York, NYGrowing in New York right now
- Amend your heavy Manhattan and Bronx clay soils with generous compost before planting bush beans to ensure proper aeration for developing roots.
- Take advantage of the 'urban heat island' effect in dense boroughs to start your French Marigolds indoors now, as they often bloom weeks earlier here than in upstate Long Island.
- Water deeply but infrequently to combat our erratic spring rainfall patterns common in April and May, preventing both drought stress and fungal issues on squash vines.
- Protect low-lying rooftop gardens from sudden cold snaps using row covers, especially since New York City's zone 7b conditions can drop below the average minimum of 5°F faster than inland areas.
Sow this week
4 crops- Bush Bean
- French Marigold
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
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
- Start succession sowing with Pole Beans or Peas every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Pinch back the tops of Basil to encourage bushier growth before the heat sets in.
- Apply a light layer of compost around harvested crops to replenish soil nutrients.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for early-season aphid colonies clustering on the new growth of your Pole Beans and Sweet Corn, which thrive in our humid microclimates.
- Watch for powdery mildew developing on Zinnias and Marigolds as humidity rises during our frequent afternoon showers typical of NYC summers.
- Check the undersides of Basil leaves for spider mites, a common issue when dry winds from the Hudson River hit exposed rooftop plots.
Watering this week
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, ensuring deep watering during hot afternoons.
Harvest Basil in the morning when essential oils are most concentrated for peak flavor.
New York gardening questions
3Can I transplant my starter plants now in New York City?
Not yet; while our urban heat helps, we are still waiting past the average last frost date of March 28, and hardening off seedlings too early risks shock from a sudden cold snap. Wait until mid-April to move sensitive crops like Squash or Zucchini outside.
Is it safe to sow Bush Beans directly into the ground this week?
You can begin pinching back and snipping leaves now since Basil is listed for immediate harvest, but avoid cutting the main stem down to the base until the soil consistently warms up in May.
What are the best low-maintenance flowers for a small Queens patio?
French Marigolds and Nasturtiums are perfect choices right now; they thrive in our alkaline city soil, attract beneficial insects away from your vegetables, and self-seed readily year after year.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your New York garden in SproutGuide →