What to plant this week in Virginia Beach, VA
With the last frost officially behind us on March 1st, Virginia Beach gardeners can aggressively move into warm-weather planting this week. The coastal breeze is cooling down enough to welcome heat-loving staples like okra and Malabar spinach without risk of chill damage.
The next 7 days
Virginia Beach, VAGrowing in Virginia Beach right now
- The sandy dune soil near the boardwalk drains fast, so amend beds with compost or organic matter before sowing bush beans and cucumbers.
- Expect higher humidity and occasional coastal fog this week; ensure good air circulation around dense plantings like summer squash to prevent mildew.
- Wind exposure from the Atlantic can stunt young seedlings; use tomato cages immediately for pole beans and zucchini.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
36 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
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest through summer.
- Thin out dense seedlings of zucchini and yellow summer squash to prevent overcrowding.
- Apply a light layer of mulch around established crops to retain soil moisture as summer heat builds.
Pest & disease watch
- Aphids are already establishing on new bean foliage due to rising temperatures and humidity.
- Spider mites may appear if a dry spell interrupts the usual coastal moisture pattern next week.
- Watch for squash vine borers attacking early yellow summer squash plants in exposed beds.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the morning to keep foliage dry and reduce disease risk during hot days.
Harvest watermelons when they produce a hollow sound upon tapping, indicating full ripeness.
Virginia Beach gardening questions
3Can I transplant my tomato seedlings now?
No, tomatoes are not on this week's transplant list; wait until late March or April when the soil warms further to avoid shock from sudden cold snaps.
What should I do if my okra plants look wilted after a hot day?
It is likely heat stress rather than disease; water deeply in the early morning and provide temporary shade cloth until evening.
Is it safe to harvest my garlic now even though winter squash is listed?
Yes, your garlic is ready to lift immediately as it appears in the 'harvest soon' list, while your winter squash needs several more weeks of frost protection to mature.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Virginia Beach garden in SproutGuide →