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.

What to start indoors in July

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts

These brassicas are the core of the fall vegetable garden in zones 5–8. All require 60–85 days from transplanting to harvest.

Per Penn State Extension, "start brassica transplants indoors 6–8 weeks before the intended outdoor transplanting date." If you plan to transplant in late July or early August:

• Start broccoli seeds indoors July 1–15 for zone 7–8
• Start cabbage in early July
• Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts: start June 20–July 5 (these are slower; fall cauliflower is difficult in short-season zones)

Brassica seeds germinate quickly in July heat — 5–7 days at 70–80°F. Keep seedlings in strong light to prevent legginess. Per NC State Extension, "brassica transplants grown in hot summer conditions can become leggy; thin and keep cool if possible."

Fall lettuce and spinach

Start heat-tolerant lettuce varieties indoors in late July for August transplanting. The goal is to have 4–6 week old transplants ready to go in the ground when temperatures cool in late August.

Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, "late July indoor starts of lettuce are common in the Northeast for fall harvest." Use varieties rated for heat tolerance ('Jericho', 'Nevada', 'Muir') for the best success with summer starting.

Kale and Swiss chard

These are easier fall crops than broccoli because they tolerate both heat (for establishment) and cold (for late-season harvest). Per Penn State Extension, "kale planted in late July produces the best-quality fall crop" because the foliage matures during cooling weather when sugars accumulate. Direct sow or start transplants in July.

What to direct sow outdoors in July

Beans — succession planting

Beans planted in early July in zone 6–7 (60+ days to first fall frost) will produce harvest in September. Per Penn State Extension, "the last practical bean planting date in zone 6 is July 15–20." Choose fast-maturing bush bean varieties (50 days).

In zone 5 (first frost September 30), the last bean planting is around July 1–5. Per University of Minnesota Extension, "late bean plantings need to mature before September 30 for zone 5 harvest."

More squash

A second direct sowing of zucchini or summer squash in early July extends the productive season. First-sowing squash plants often decline from powdery mildew or vine borers by late July–August; fresh plants carry production through fall. Per NC State Extension, "succession plantings of summer squash every 4–6 weeks extend the harvest season significantly."

Turnips and rutabaga

Excellent fall crops that benefit from cool-weather maturation. Per Penn State Extension, "turnips planted in July or early August produce the best fall flavor." Sow directly, 1/2 inch deep, 2 inches apart. Days to maturity: 35–60 days depending on variety.

Carrots for fall harvest

Carrots sown in July will mature in September–October in zones 6–8. Per Penn State Extension, "fall-harvested carrots are often sweeter than spring crops" because cold nights trigger starch-to-sugar conversion. Sow 1/4 inch deep; keep the soil surface consistently moist for germination (14–21 days). Thin to 2–3 inches when seedlings are 2 inches tall.

Kale direct sow

For zones 5–6, direct sowing kale outdoors in early July is the simplest approach. Sow 1/2 inch deep, thin to 12 inches apart. The plants establish quickly in warm soil and begin producing in September.

What's still okay to plant outdoors in July

Beans, squash, cucumbers (early July only)

These crops all need 45–65 days and warm temperatures. In zones 6–7, early July is the final practical window. After July 15 in zone 6, the frost window narrows too much for reliable production.

Sweet potatoes

Still plantable in early July in zone 7 if slips are available. Per NC State Extension, sweet potato slips planted by July 4 in zone 7 give approximately 100 days before first frost — just enough for most varieties.

Annual herbs

Basil, cilantro, and dill can be planted in early July in all zones. Basil performs best in July heat; cilantro bolts fast in heat but can be planted in late July for fall production as temperatures drop.

July garden tasks: priority over new planting

In many zone 6–8 gardens, the most important July work is maintaining existing plantings:

Tomato pruning and support: Remove suckers from indeterminate tomatoes to maintain the number of main stems you want (usually 1–3 stems per plant). Per Penn State Extension, "unpruned indeterminate tomatoes become a tangled mass by August, with reduced air circulation and increased disease risk."

Disease scouting: July is when early blight, bacterial speck, and other tomato diseases appear. Per NC State Extension, "early identification and management of tomato diseases in July prevents crop failure in August and September."

Watering consistency: Irregular watering in July causes blossom end rot in tomatoes (calcium uptake disruption) and hollow or misshaped peppers. Per Clemson HGIC, "consistent soil moisture is more important than total water volume" for tomatoes in summer heat.

Regional guide for July

Northeast (zones 5–7)

Start: fall broccoli, kale, cabbage indoors now. Direct sow: beans (early July), carrots, beets, turnips. Maintain: tomatoes, cucumbers, squash.

Southeast (zones 7–9)

Focus on heat-tolerant crops: sweet potatoes, okra, Southern peas. Begin thinking about fall transplants (broccoli, cabbage) for zone 8–9 August planting. Zone 9 can plant a full fall garden starting in August.

Midwest (zones 4–6)

July is the last planting window for warm-season crops in zone 4–5. Begin fall planning. Start broccoli indoors for zone 5–6 late July–early August transplanting.

Pacific Northwest (zones 7–9)

July is prime growing season in the Pacific Northwest — warm but not excessively hot. Per Oregon State Extension, "July direct sowings of beans, cucumbers, and summer squash are reliable in zone 8 PNW." Start fall brassica transplants for August outdoor planting.

State planting calendars

• New York: /planting/ny/
• Pennsylvania: /planting/pa/
• North Carolina: /planting/nc/
• Oregon: /planting/or/

Common mistakes

Frequently asked

What's the latest I can plant tomatoes in zone 7?

Per Penn State Extension, tomatoes planted after June 15–30 in zone 7 "may not produce a significant harvest before fall frost." The latest practical transplant date is around July 1 for zone 7, using a determinate, short-season variety (60–65 days to maturity). Later than that, the gamble rarely pays off.

How do I protect fall brassica transplants from heat?

Shade cloth (30–40% light reduction) over young brassica transplants in August reduces heat stress significantly. Per NC State Extension, "shading reduces transplant mortality significantly in summer" for brassicas. Water transplants twice daily for the first week after planting.

Can I plant garlic in July?

No. Garlic cloves need cold stratification and are planted in fall (October–November in zones 5–7). Per Penn State Extension, garlic planted in summer does not produce proper bulbs. Wait until fall.

Sources

1. Penn State Extension — Fall Vegetable Planting
2. NC State Extension — Vegetable Crops
3. University of Minnesota Extension — Late-Season Planting
4. Cornell Cooperative Extension — Fall Garden Planning
5. Oregon State Extension — Summer Planting
6. Clemson HGIC — Tomato Care