What to plant this week in Spokane, WA
Spokane gardeners are now officially in the green zone, with the average last frost date of April 3 marking the clear signal to move everything outside. With nights still hovering near freezing until late spring, focus this week on those heat-loving crops like Okra and Malabar Spinach that thrive in our dry summers but demand a warm start.
The next 7 days
Spokane, WAGrowing in Spokane right now
- Our deep, well-draining valley soils hold little water during our typical May droughts; be sure to mulch heavily around transplanted Zinnias and Sunflowers to conserve moisture.
- The steep slopes common in the Highland Park and North Central neighborhoods can lead to rapid runoff; use temporary diversion berms if heavy rain is forecast this week before transplanting delicate Garlic or Fennel.
- With the average first frost not until November 6, you have plenty of time to sow Sweet Potato slips directly now for a fall crop that matures right as our cool season arrives.
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
- Watch for early aphid colonies forming on the new growth of Basil and Shiso in our sheltered valley pockets.
- As soil warms, monitor Cucumber and Zucchini plants for cucumber beetle activity which thrives in Spokane's specific microclimates near the river.
- Late-season frost events can still damage tender Malabar Spinach leaves; consider row covers if a hard freeze is predicted after planting.
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.
Spokane gardening questions
3Can I plant Okra and Malabar Spinach directly in Spokane soil right now?
Yes, these are both listed as harvestable soon because they require consistent warmth that our zone 7a climate provides after the April 3 frost date passes.
When is the best time to start my Garlic cloves for a fall harvest?
You can plant hardneck Garlic varieties now; in Spokane, they will establish roots before winter dormancy and produce bulbs by late summer.
Which of these summer crops need special attention during our dry summers?
Cantaloupe, Watermelon, and Pumpkin require regular deep watering since Spokane rainfall is typically low in June through August.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Spokane garden in SproutGuide →