What to plant this week in Niagara Falls, ON
With the average last frost date for Niagara Falls passing on April 21, this week signals a critical shift from cold-season hardening to active summer growth. Gardeners must capitalize on the warm soil now that temperatures are consistently above -5°F lows to harvest your early crops like basil and borage before the next heat spike.
The next 7 days
Niagara Falls, ONGrowing in Niagara Falls right now
- Niagara's clay-heavy soils near the riverbank drain slowly; add generous compost or organic matter to raised beds for root vegetables like parsnips and leeks to prevent rotting during our frequent spring thaws.
- The microclimate here creates a 'heat island' effect from Lake Erie, allowing you to safely transplant heat-loving edamame and okra immediately, but always mulch heavily to retain moisture during the region's unpredictable summer downpours.
- Protect your early potato and sweet corn crops with row covers or hoops; the cool spring air lingering in the ravines can stunt germination until the ground fully warms up by mid-May.
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
- Keep a close eye on pollinator-friendly flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia to ensure good seed set.
- Harvest bush beans and cucumbers frequently to encourage continued production throughout summer.
- Protect young transplants from late spring chill with row covers if an unexpected cold snap occurs.
- Plan succession sowing for cool-season crops now so they are ready as the weather cools in October.
Pest & disease watch
- Cabbage loopers are becoming active on your transplanted cabbage family plants, requiring regular scouting for webbing and holes.
- Aphid colonies often establish quickly on young nasturtium and zinnia leaves as temperatures climb into the 60s F.
- Watch for squash vine borers attacking your bush beans and cucumbers; apply a barrier of diatomaceous earth at soil level immediately upon seeing egg-laying females.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Save seeds from your best-performing varieties like French Marigold and Zinnia to start your next season's garden early.
Niagara Falls gardening questions
3Can I plant my summer squash seeds directly outside this week?
Yes, the air temperatures are now safe for direct sowing yellow and winter squash since the frost danger has passed. Just ensure your soil is workable and not soggy from recent rains before digging holes.
When should I start harvesting my watermelons and cantaloupes?
Begin checking for maturity soon, as these fruits need consistent warmth to develop their sugars. Look for a dull yellow ground spot under the fruit and a strong scent when ripe.
How do I protect my dahlia tubers if we get another late frost?
Since your first hard frost isn't until October 24, you can leave them in the ground for now. However, keep an eye on the weather forecast and cover with fleece if a sudden drop to near freezing is predicted.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Niagara Falls garden in SproutGuide →