What to plant this week in Wilmington, NC
Wilmington gardeners are officially in the deep summer rhythm, with average lows of 15°F only a distant memory since your last frost likely passed early March. This week is prime time to harvest heat-lovers like okra and bush beans while sowing quick crops such as cucumber and zinnia that thrive in our coastal warmth.
The next 7 days
Wilmington, NCGrowing in Wilmington right now
- Our sandy coastal soils near the Cape Fear River drain quickly, so add generous amounts of compost or aged manure before planting squash and beans to retain moisture. Be vigilant about watering early morning, as our humid summers encourage fungal issues if plants sit wet into the heat of the day.
- While transplants are not currently recommended for this week's schedule, focus your energy on direct seeding warm-season crops like Malabar spinach and Scarlet Runner beans that germinate best in our current soil temperatures. Avoid heavy tilling now to protect the delicate mycelial networks in the sand that help our local plants survive drought spells.
- Keep an eye on container overflow; Wilmington's intense afternoon thunderstorms can easily dump inches of rain, so ensure pots have excellent drainage holes to prevent root rot in your newly sown bush beans and French marigolds.
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
- Spider mites are exploding in the humid heat this week, particularly on the undersides of zucchini leaves; spray with insecticidal soap early in the morning before dew dries.
- Aphids frequently swarm the tender stems of young Cleome (Spider Flower) and nasturtium seedlings during these warm spells, requiring a strong water blast or neem oil treatment for quick control.
- Root-knot nematodes are active in our sandy loam this season, so rotate your okra and pole bean locations away from where you planted them last year to prevent stunted growth.
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.
Wilmington gardening questions
3When is the best time to harvest my cantaloupe and watermelon in Wilmington?
Start checking for ripeness on your melons now by looking for a deep yellow color at the stem end and a hollow sound when tapped, as our coastal heat accelerates sugar development. For watermelons, look for a creamy yellow spot where they touched the ground; once you cut one open that is fully ripe, it will not improve with further ripening on the vine.
Can I transplant my garlic bulbs now in this 8b zone?
No, do not plant or transplant garlic now as your schedule indicates immediate harvest for existing crops and no new sowings are listed for this week. Garlic requires a long cool season to bulb up properly, so wait until late summer or early fall when temperatures drop significantly after the peak heat of July.
How do I manage the intense humidity affecting my yellow summer squash?
Thin your squash plants to ensure good air circulation between them, which reduces the risk of powdery mildew in our sticky coastal air. Water deeply at the soil line rather than overhead to keep foliage dry and prevent fungal spores from taking hold on your zucchini leaves.
Other cities in zone 8b
12See the full zone 8b guide → · Plan your Wilmington garden in SproutGuide →