What To Plant In July

If you think the prime planting season is over, think again. Knowing what to plant in July can give your garden a vibrant second act. This is the perfect time to fill gaps, extend your harvest, and enjoy color right into the fall. The warm soil and long days create ideal conditions for many seeds and seedlings to thrive quickly.

July planting is all about speed and timing. You need to choose varieties that mature fast or enjoy the cooler weather that arrives later. Focus on crops that can handle the summer heat at the start but finish in milder autumn conditions. For flowers, look for those that bloom quickly and continue until frost.

Vegetables to Plant in July

Your vegetable garden still has plenty of potential. The key is selecting the right types. Here are the best candidates for a late summer sowing.

Fast-Growing Leafy Greens

Many greens sprout and grow rapidly in warm soil. They provide a quick return for your effort.

Lettuce: Opt for loose-leaf or romaine types that mature in 45-50 days. Sow seeds in a spot with afternoon shade to prevent bolting. Keep the soil consistently moist for best results.
Spinach: Look for heat-tolerant or “long-standing” varieties. It’s perfect for baby leaves in just a few weeks. You can succession sow every two weeks for a continuous supply.
Kale: This hardy green actually sweetens after a frost. Plant seedlings now for a robust fall and even winter harvest. It’s incredibly resilient and nutritious.
Arugula & Mustard Greens: Their peppery flavor is excellent for salads. They germinate in just days and you can start harvesting in about three weeks.

Root Vegetables for Fall Harvest

These crops develop their best flavor when they mature in cool autumn soil. Direct sowing is usually best.

Radishes: Perhaps the fastest crop. Some varieties are ready in just 25 days. They are ideal for marking rows of slower-germinating seeds like carrots.
Beets & Turnips: You can harvest them young for their tender roots and greens. Make sure to thin seedlings properly to give the roots room to expand, which is a common mistake.
Carrots: Choose shorter Nantes or Chantenay types for heavy soil. They’ll be ready for a sweet fall harvest. Keep the seed bed moist until they sprout, which can take a week or two.
Daikon Radishes: These large radishes are great for winter storage and improve soil structure. They need a longer growing season but are worth the wait.

The Brassica Family (Cole Crops)

July is the time to start these from seed or use transplants for a head start. They thrive in fall weather.

Broccoli & Cauliflower: Use transplants to ensure they have enough time to form heads before frost. Check variety days-to-maturity carefully.
Brussels Sprouts: These are a long-season crop, but planting in July ensures they mature during cool weather, which improves their flavor dramatically.
Cabbage: Choose fast-maturing varieties for a fall harvest. They can handle light frosts, which often makes them even more tender.

Legumes & Others

Don’t forget these productive and soil-friendly plants.

Bush Beans: They mature quickly (often 50-60 days). Sow seeds directly every two weeks for a steady bean supply into early fall. Pole beans take to long, so stick with bush types.
Swiss Chard: This colorful, versatile green is both heat and cold tolerant. It will produce leaves continuously if you harvest the outer ones regularly.
Green Onions & Scallions: You can grow these from seed or simply replant the root ends from store-bought bunches. They have a very quick turnaround time.

Herbs to Plant in July

Refresh your herb supply with quick-growing varieties. Many herbs can be grown from seed now for a late-season bounty.

Cilantro: It bolts quickly in heat, but sowing in July often means it matures in cooler fall weather, giving you a longer harvest window.
Dill: A great companion for fall pickles. It grows easily from seed and its feathery foliage is attractive in the garden.
Parsley: Both curly and flat-leaf types are biennials. Planting now gives you a strong plant that may even overwinter in milder climates.
Basil: Pinch off any flower buds to encourage leafy growth. It’s sensitive to frost, so you’ll get a few good months of harvest before the first cold snap.

Flowers to Plant in July

For instant color and to support pollinators, add these fast-blooming annuals and perennials. You can often find them as inexpensive “color packs” at garden centers.

Annuals from Seed or Transplant

Zinnias: They bloom in about 60 days from seed and provide constant color. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
Marigolds: A classic, pest-deterring flower. They germinate and flower quickly, filling gaps with cheerful golds and oranges.
Sunflowers: Choose dwarf or quick-blooming varieties for late summer joy. They bring in birds and bees like nothing else.
Cosmos: These airy, delicate flowers are incredibly easy to grow from seed. They thrive in poor soil and bloom until frost.
Nasturtiums: The leaves and flowers are edible with a peppery taste. They prefer poorer soil and can trail or bush out.

Perennials for Future Seasons

Planting perennial flowers in July gives them time to establish roots before winter dormancy. Water them diligently through the summer heat.

Sedum (Stonecrop): Extremely drought-tolerant once established. Their fall blooms are a vital late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies.
Ornamental Grasses: They add movement and texture to the garden. Planting now allows their root systems to develop for a spectacular show next year.
Peonies: While they won’t bloom until next spring, planting bare-root or container peonies in late summer is often recommended for best results.

Essential July Planting Tips

Success in the summer garden hinges on a few critical practices. The main challenges are heat and moisture management.

1. Prepare the Soil Well

Rejuvenate soil that has already grown a spring crop. Remove any previous debris and weeds.

Mix in 2-3 inches of compost or well-rotted manure to replenish nutrients.
A light application of a balanced organic fertilizer can give new plants a boost.
Loosen the soil to a depth of at least 6-8 inches so young roots can penetrate easily.

2. Master Watering

This is the most important step for July planting. Seeds and new transplants need consistent moisture.

Water new seeds daily, sometimes twice daily in very hot weather, until they germinate.
Use a gentle spray to avoid washing away tiny seeds. A soaker hose or drip irrigation is ideal.
Apply 2-3 inches of mulch (straw, shredded leaves, wood chips) around plants. This keeps soil cool, conserves water, and suppresses weeds.

3. Provide Shade & Protection

Help delicate seedlings beat the heat with simple shading techniques.

Use a shade cloth, an old window screen, or even a lattice propped over the bed for the first week.
Plant taller crops (like pole beans or sunflowers) on the west side of new plantings to provide afternoon shade.
Consider using row covers, which can moderate temperature and protect from pests.

4. Succession Planting Schedule

To avoid a glut and ensure continuous harvest, stagger your plantings.

Make a list of what you want to harvest in September and October.
Check the “days to maturity” on each seed packet.
Count backwards from your first average fall frost date. Give yourself a 1-2 week buffer.
Sow small amounts of fast crops (like lettuce, radishes) every 10-14 days.

Common July Planting Mistakes to Avoid

Planting Too Late: Always check days to maturity against your frost date. Some crops just won’t have enough time.
Skipping Soil Prep: Don’t just poke seeds into exhausted soil. They need nutrients and a loose structure to succeed.
Overlooking Water Needs: Assuming a summer rain will be enough is a recipe for failure. Be prepared to water consistently by hand.
Forgetting to Mulch: Bare soil bakes in the sun, harming roots and wasting water. Mulch is non-negotiable for summer planting.

FAQ: Late Summer Gardening

What can I plant in late July for a fall garden?

All the vegetables listed above, like kale, carrots, and bush beans, are excellent for a fall garden when planted in late July. The key is choosing fast-maturing varieties and providing ample water at the start.

Is July too late to plant seeds?

Not at all! July is perfect for many seeds, especially greens, radishes, beans, and fast-blooming flowers like zinnias. Warm soil speeds up germination, just keep them moist.

What should I plant in August or September?

In August, focus on spinach, turnips, more lettuce, and overwintering onions. In September, its prime time for planting garlic cloves for next summer’s harvest, as well as cover crops to protect soil.

How do I protect my July plantings from heat?

Use mulch, provide temporary afternoon shade with cloth or other plants, and water deeply in the early morning. Avoid watering in the heat of the day, as much water is lost to evaporation.

July planting is a rewarding endeavor that keeps your garden productive and beautiful. With careful variety selection, attentive watering, and smart timing, you’ll be harvesting fresh vegetables and cutting vibrant bouquets long after summer’s peak has passed. Your late summer garden can be one of the most satisfying projects of the year.