What to plant this week in Newark, NJ
Newark gardeners in mid-March are officially moving from cold-hardening to active sowing, as our late frost average of March 28 allows for immediate outdoor starts. This week marks the perfect window to plant warm-season staples like Bush Beans and Yellow Summer Squash that thrive before our typical November freeze.
The next 7 days
Newark, NJGrowing in Newark right now
- Our urban soil often compacts quickly due to foot traffic and construction; amend planting beds with generous compost to improve drainage for these shallow-rooted beans and squashes.
- With spring rainfall shifting from snowmelt to steady rain in April, ensure your newly sown seeds have good surface contact but avoid waterlogging that can rot tender French Marigolds.
- Take advantage of Newark's relatively mild microclimates near the Delaware River by using black plastic mulch to warm the earth for early transplants once the soil softens.
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
- Watch for cutworms emerging as temperatures rise, which frequently attack the stems of young Squash and Zucchini seedlings at night.
- Early spring slugs will target the tender leaves of newly sown Bush Beans if heavy dew or recent rains have softened our clay-heavy ground.
- Monitor Garlic plants for onion thrips now that they are actively growing in our warming zone 7b conditions.
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.
Newark gardening questions
3Can I plant my French Marigolds directly outside this week in Newark?
Yes, since we typically see no frost after March 28, you can sow French Marigold seeds right into the garden now. Make sure to keep them consistently moist until they germinate through our variable spring weather.
My Bush Beans are ready for harvest soon; should I leave them on the vine?
Harvest your Bush Beans as soon as pods reach a tender size, usually about 2-3 inches long, before the seeds inside harden. Leaving them too long can reduce yield and make the pods tough in our Newark climate.
When is the right time to stop watering my Winter Squash plants?
You should significantly reduce irrigation on your Winter Squash about three weeks before our first frost date of November 15. This helps the skins mature and harden properly for long-term storage, which is crucial given our unpredictable late autumn weather.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Newark garden in SproutGuide →