What to plant this week in St. John's, NL
With St. John's hovering near the May 1 average last frost date, your window for moving tender crops like basil, zinnias, and summer squash is finally open this week as temperatures stabilize above freezing. Be wary of lingering late frosts in sheltered corners of Avalon or coastal bays that can still dip toward -15°F at night despite the green-up.
The next 7 days
St. John's, NLGrowing in St. John's right now
- The acidic, sandy-loam soils typical of the Cape require immediate amendment with compost to hold moisture for newly transplanted edamame and sweet corn.
- Frequent spring rainstorms in St. John's often create waterlogged conditions; ensure your vegetable beds have raised rows or excellent drainage to prevent root rot on potatoes and leeks.
- Wind from the Atlantic can easily snap tall seedlings like sunflowers and pole beans, so secure stakes firmly before the next gusty front hits.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- 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)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- 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
- Harvest bush beans, cucumbers, and yellow summer squash regularly to encourage continued production.
- Deadhead spent flowers like cosmos and zinnia to keep the plants looking tidy and blooming longer.
- Check on garlic scapes if planted early this spring; it's time to harvest them soon.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphid outbreaks are common on newly transplanted fennel and cosmos; inspect undersides of leaves daily for early intervention with strong water sprays.
- Late-season soil moisture can trigger root-knot nematodes in cucumbers and melons, so rotate your squash family away from previous planting spots this season.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated during this warm growing season while letting soil dry slightly between sessions.
Pinch back any leggy basil or shiso plants now to promote bushier growth before the heat peaks.
St. John's gardening questions
3Can I now transplant my basil, borage, and summer savory without risk?
Yes, with the May 1 frost average passed, these heat-loving herbs can move outdoors as long as there is no immediate threat of a sudden freeze dropping temperatures near -15°F.
What specific varieties from this week's list thrive best in our short St. John's growing season?
Focus on fast-maturing crops like bush beans, early zucchini, and French marigolds, which need the full span between mid-May and mid-October to produce a robust harvest.
How should I prepare soil for garlic and parsnips before planting this week?
Mix in generous amounts of organic matter into your sandy soil to improve water retention, then firm the bed gently to ensure good seed-to-soil contact for these root vegetables.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your St. John's garden in SproutGuide →