What to plant in July

July is the critical start date for fall broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants (zones 5–8). Direct sow beans and quick-maturing vegetables for late-season harvests. Start fall lettuce indoors for transplanting in August. In zones 8–10, July is when the cool-season fall g

July has a split identity: it's peak summer for warm-season crops already in the ground, and it's the beginning of the fall planting calendar for everything else. Miss the July window for fall brassicas and you'll have an empty garden in October.

The fall countdown: why July timing matters

Per Penn State Extension, planning fall crops requires "counting backward from the first fall frost date." Add the days-to-maturity for each crop, then add 14 days for slow germination and establishment in summer heat, and you have your target planting date.

Approximate first fall frost dates by zone:

• Zone 5 (Minneapolis): September 30 – October 15
• Zone 6 (Philadelphia): October 15–30
• Zone 7 (Long Island): October 15–25
• Zone 8 (Atlanta): November 1–15

Example calculation for zone 7 (first frost October 20): Broccoli days to maturity = 60–80 days. Add 14 days for summer heat factor. Target transplanting date = October 20 minus 74–94 days = July 17 – August 7. Start seeds indoors July 1–15 for transplanting in early August.

This is the math I use every year. It's not optional — fall broccoli that misses this window either doesn't produce heads before frost or produces them in November when they may freeze.