Zone 1a planting calendar

What to plant in July: zone 1a

Zone 1a averages its last spring frost around June 20 and its first fall frost around August 10. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.

Last frost: June 20

First frost: August 10

Winter lows: -60 to -55 °F

Zone 1a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Garden care

Mulch every bedaround Jul 11
3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer.
Set up deep wateringaround Jul 18
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.

Sow cover crop

Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Jul 11
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.

Plant to overwinter

Garlicaround Jul 27
Cloves go in about two weeks before first frost. They root now, sleep, then bulb next summer.

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