What to plant this week in Topeka, KS
Topeka gardeners are officially in the 'last call before frost' phase, with an average first frost hitting on October 24th. This week is critical for harvesting cool-season giants like parsnips and leeks while your late summer crops like zucchini and pumpkins are still ripening.
The next 7 days
Topeka, KSGrowing in Topeka right now
- Protect late-blooming dahlias and cosmos from the predicted -5°F minimums by applying thick mulch or cutting back stems to prevent rot before soil freeze.
- Harvest winter squash and ornamental gourds now; allow them to cure on the ground or in a sunny spot for two weeks before moving them indoors to overwinter.
- If planting garlic this week, choose a site with well-drained loam common across the Kansas plains to avoid root rot in our heavy clay patches.
- Take advantage of the current window to transplant edamame and bush beans into your final harvest spots if you missed the earlier sow dates.
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
- Keep a close eye on pollinator-friendly flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia to ensure good seed set.
- Harvest bush beans and cucumbers frequently to encourage continued production throughout summer.
- Protect young transplants from late spring chill with row covers if an unexpected cold snap occurs.
- Plan succession sowing for cool-season crops now so they are ready as the weather cools in October.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for powdery mildew on zucchini, cucumbers, and melons as humidity rises before the dry fall winds set in.
- Check leaf undersides of pole beans and sweet corn for aphids that thrive during this warm transition period.
- Monitor squash vine borers on pumpkin and summer squash vines; apply Bt spray early if you see wilted stems.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Save seeds from your best-performing varieties like French Marigold and Zinnia to start your next season's garden early.
Topeka gardening questions
3Can I still plant sunflowers or zinnias now?
Only as a quick harvest for seeds, but they will likely not bloom before the Oct 24 frost date. It is better to focus your energy on harvesting existing crops like sweet corn and yellow squash this week.
When should I bring my tomatoes indoors?
Your average first frost is October 24th, so pull up any unripe or ripening tomato plants a week early to dry them out in the sun before moving pots inside.
Is it safe to harvest parsnips now that nights are getting colder?
Yes, parsnips and carrots develop their best sweetness after a frost, making this an ideal time to dig up your crop in Topeka's climate.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Topeka garden in SproutGuide →