What to plant this week in Norfolk, VA
With the last frost officially behind us in Norfolk on average around March 1st, your coastal garden is ready to explode with growth this week. The warm 8b climate and humid air mean plants like Okra and Malabar Spinach are thriving, while early harvests of Cucumber and Bush Bean await you on the vine.
The next 7 days
Norfolk, VAGrowing in Norfolk right now
- The Hampton Roads soil often stays damp due to tidal influence; ensure your raised beds have excellent drainage to prevent root rot in these heavy clays.
- Norfolk's intense summer sun can scorch new transplants quickly, so keep Yellow Summer Squash and Zinnia shaded by morning clouds or a shade cloth until they harden off.
- Salt air from the nearby Chesapeake Bay can stress sensitive foliage; rinse leafy greens like Nasturtium with fresh water weekly to wash away salt residue.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 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
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest through summer.
- Thin out dense seedlings of zucchini and yellow summer squash to prevent overcrowding.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established crops to retain soil moisture as summer heat builds.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early-season aphid colonies on the new growth of Pole Beans and Cucumber, common in our humid spring air.
- Monitor Malabar Spinach closely for spider mites, which thrive rapidly when temperatures climb above 70°F in our coastal heat.
- Check the undersides of Zinnia leaves for thrips, a frequent visitor to Norfolk gardens that can cause silvering on petals.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risk during hot days.
Harvest watermelons when they produce a hollow sound upon tapping, indicating full ripeness.
Norfolk gardening questions
3Can I still plant cold-hardy crops like Garlic or Winter Squash now?
You are currently harvesting your Garlic crop, but you cannot sow new garlic cloves this week as the soil is too warm for root establishment. However, it is an ideal time to harvest and cure your stored Winter Squash for winter use.
Which beans grow best in Norfolk's sandy coastal soil?
Scarlet Runner Beans and Bush Beans perform exceptionally well here because they tolerate our slightly saline, sandy substrates better than other varieties. Plant Scarlet Runner Beans directly now since they are heat-loving and do not require the cool soil conditions that Pole Beans need.
Is it safe to harvest Melons and Watermelons right after a heavy rain?
Yes, you can safely harvest Cantaloupe, Honeydew, and Watermelon immediately following rainfall, provided there are no signs of cracking or rot. The warm Norfolk air often accelerates ripening, so check the stems daily for the dry sign-off that indicates readiness.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Norfolk garden in SproutGuide →