What to plant this week in St. Paul, MN
With the average last frost date in St. Paul hovering around May 8, this week marks the critical window to push your tender transplants into the ground as daytime warmth arrives before the late spring chill returns. Gardeners should focus on harvesting those summer crops that are ready now while preparing for a long growing season ending with first frost near October 8.
The next 7 days
St. Paul, MNGrowing in St. Paul right now
- St. Paul's clay-heavy soil retains moisture well, so ensure you amend beds with compost to improve drainage for your squash and melon plants before they root deeply.
- Be prepared for sudden temperature swings typical of the Twin Cities spring; use row covers overnight on newly transplanted tomatoes, peppers, and beans if a cold front threatens.
- Take advantage of the extended summer window by planting heat-loving items like Basil, Thai Basil, and Ghost Peppers immediately to maximize yield before early October frosts.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
46 crops- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Bell Pepper
- 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
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Begin succession sowing quick-maturing crops like Bush Beans or Lettuce to extend your harvest before the first frost on October 8.
- Apply a thick layer of straw or leaf mulch around perennial roots and Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts to protect them from early cold snaps.
- Prune back any leggy Summer Savory or Garden Verbena now to encourage fresh growth once temperatures stabilize after the frost.
- Start planning your spring garden by ordering seeds for crops that need a long head start, such as Garlic for next fall planting.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids colonizing the undersides of young Bean and Squash leaves as humidity rises in late spring.
- Monitor for early blight on your Tomato and Potato foliage, which thrives in our damp spring soil conditions.
- Keep an eye out for cutworms attacking seedling stems of Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts if they are planted outdoors now.
Watering this week
Reduce watering frequency but increase volume deeply to help plants build frost resistance before the October chill sets in.
Harvest Garlic now if it has finished curing to ensure you get a full bulb before the ground freezes hard.
St. Paul gardening questions
3Is it safe to transplant my Basil and Peppers into the ground this week?
Yes, but only after checking that no frost is forecasted for 48 hours following our average May 8 date. Mulch heavily around the base of these plants to protect them from any unexpected late cold snaps common in St. Paul.
When is the best time to plant Garlic for next year's harvest?
Incorporate plenty of organic matter into your heavy clay soil now to ensure proper drainage, as squash roots can easily rot in waterlogged earth typical of our local terrain.
When is the best time to plant Garlic for next year's harvest?
Plant your Garlic cloves now or in early October, as they need several weeks of soil warmth before the ground freezes hard in late November.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your St. Paul garden in SproutGuide →