What to plant this week in Providence, RI
Providence gardeners are in full swing during this week, with the last frost officially averaging April 3 behind us and warmth finally driving rapid growth for warm-season crops. With nighttime temperatures hovering near 0°F historically but daytime highs climbing well above freezing, it is critical to protect any lingering tender starts while aggressively harvesting your mid-summer yields.
The next 7 days
Providence, RIGrowing in Providence right now
- Providence's clay-heavy soils in many neighborhoods mean you must amend beds with compost before planting transplants like Zucchini or Sweet Corn to ensure proper drainage and root expansion.
- Given the city's urban heat island effect, your South Side and Downtown plots will mature a week earlier than rural North County neighbors; harvest Watermelon and Pumpkin early this week before they ripen too fast in the extra warmth.
- Watch for sudden late spring cool spells typical of Rhode Island coastal breezes; cover newly transplanted Okra and Malabar Spinach with row fabric if temperatures dip unexpectedly below 50°F at night.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
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
- Thin out overcrowded seedlings to give remaining plants room for air circulation and sun.
- Apply a light layer of straw mulch around warm-weather crops to retain soil moisture during heat waves.
- Practice succession sowing with fast-maturing beans or radishes every two weeks to extend your harvest window.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider Mites are likely active on your Zinnia, Cosmos, and Fennel as the heat builds; spray with insecticidal soap early in the morning before pollen release to avoid harming beneficial insects.
- Late-season blight can strike Squash family members like Butternut or Yellow Summer Squash; water at the base only and apply copper-based fungicide if you see dark spots on leaves.
- Cutworms often target young Sweet Corn and Pole Bean seedlings in Providence's vegetable patches; inspect soil lines nightly and hand-pick them off before they sever stems.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the early morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases on wet foliage.
Harvest basil leaves regularly by pinching off stems just above a leaf pair to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering.
Providence gardening questions
3Can I still transplant my Basil or Shiso this week, or should I wait?
Yes, you can safely transplant these now since the last frost average is April 3 and the risk of hard freezes has passed. However, keep them in a shady spot for the first few days to acclimate them to our bright coastal sun.
My Cucumber and Zucchini are blooming heavily but not setting fruit; what's wrong?
This is common when pollinators struggle in our early morning fog or when plants get too much nitrogen fertilizer. Hand-pollinate the male and female flowers with a soft brush to ensure your Providence garden sets those pumpkins and cucumbers.
Is it safe to harvest my Garlic now, even though we haven't hit November 6 yet?
No, wait until you see yellowing lower leaves in late summer or early fall; pulling garlic too soon stops bulb maturation. Your bulbs need the remaining warm days of August and September to develop full size before our first frost on Nov 6.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Providence garden in SproutGuide →