Zone 3a planting calendar

What to plant in July: zone 3a

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 3a: last spring frost around May 30, first fall frost around September 10. Zones are set by winter lows, not frost dates, so two gardens in the same zone can be weeks apart. Measure your ZIP below for dates from your area's own 30-year record.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Typical last frost: May 30
Typical first frost: September 10
Winter lows: -40 to -35 °F
Zone 3a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Direct sow for fall

  • Spinach2 sowings: Jul 1 and Jul 22

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Lettuce2 sowings: Jul 1 and Jul 22

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Parsleyaround Jul 2

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Cilantro2 sowings: Jul 6 and Jul 27

    Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

  • Bush beanaround Jul 7

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Peaaround Jul 12

    Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Carrotaround Jul 13

    Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy: light freezes sweeten it.

  • Beetaround Jul 17

    Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

  • Dillaround Jul 17

    Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender: must finish before frost.

  • Radisharound Jul 25

    Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.

Succession sow

  • Basilaround Jul 4

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

Garden care

  • Side-dress heavy feeders3 sowings: Jul 11 and Jul 18 and Jul 25

    Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets. Sowing again a few weeks later keeps the harvest coming instead of arriving all at once.

Transplant for fall

  • Broccoliaround Jul 18

    Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 09-10.

  • Kalearound Jul 28

    Last safe transplant date to mature (55 days) before frost on 09-10.

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