What to plant this week in South Bend, IN
South Bend gardeners are in the final stretch of late summer to early autumn, with frost expected as soon as October 17. While temperatures hover above freezing tonight, focus your energy on harvesting crops like zucchini and cucumbers before a potential snap, then immediately start pulling up winter squash and dahlias to save for storage or overwintering.
The next 7 days
South Bend, INGrowing in South Bend right now
- Protect sensitive summer annuals like basil and French marigolds with frost cloths if temps dip near 32°F, as our average last frost date of April 21 means we are well past the safe hardening-off window for tender starts.
- Take advantage of our relatively short growing season by prioritizing cold-hardy crops now; garlic can be planted immediately to mature next summer before the ground freezes again.
- Our clay-heavy soils in St. Joseph County retain moisture well, so water less frequently than usual but ensure good drainage to prevent root rot in containers holding edamame or pole beans during these cooler nights.
- Prepare your beds for next year by turning under compost and planting cover crops like clover before the first hard freeze on October 17 solidifies the ground.
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
- Succession sow bush beans and sweet corn every two weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and okra to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering too early.
- Add a thin layer of straw or shredded leaves around heavy feeders like pumpkins and squash to retain moisture.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on the undersides of zucchini and cucumber leaves as plant stress increases in cool, damp weather common to late September in South Bend.
- Monitor black-eyed peas and lima beans for bean leaf beetles, which tend to linger longer into autumn than they do earlier in the season.
- Check dahlia tubers before digging for signs of rot or fungal issues that thrive in our humid fall air.
Watering this week
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, applying it deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and disease risk.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash early in the day when they are most tender and flavorful for your table.
South Bend gardening questions
3Can I still plant garlic this week in South Bend?
Yes, now is an ideal time to plant hardneck garlic varieties right after harvesting your final rounds of zucchini. Ensure the soil is workable but not frozen solid before planting cloves 2 inches deep.
When should I harvest my winter squash and pumpkins?
Wait until leaves have completely yellowed and browned off the vine, which usually signals that the fruit has finished maturing in our Zone 6a climate. Cure them indoors for two weeks before storing to extend their shelf life through the winter.
Should I bring my potted dahlias inside now?
Absolutely; with the first frost date approaching October 17, you must dig up tubers once foliage dies back to prevent killing your plants. Gently brush off soil and store them dry in peat moss or vermiculite in a cool, dark garage.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your South Bend garden in SproutGuide →