What to plant in July: zone 2a
Zone 2a averages its last spring frost around June 5 and its first fall frost around August 20. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Garden care
- Set up deep wateringaround Jul 3
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround Jul 17
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
- Prune and stake tomatoesaround Jul 24
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow. The main defense against blight in humid heat.
- Shade the cool-season bedaround Jul 31
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.
Sow cover crop
- Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Jul 21
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.
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