Zone 3a planting calendar

What to plant in July: zone 3a

Zone 3a averages its last spring frost around May 30 and its first fall frost around September 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: May 30

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

Spinacharound Jul 1
Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
Lettucearound Jul 1
Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
Parsleyaround Jul 2
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
Cilantroaround Jul 6
Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
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.
Spinacharound Jul 22
Succession sowing 2 of 3. Sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
Lettucearound Jul 22
Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
Radisharound Jul 25
Succession sowing 3 of 3. Sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
Cilantroaround Jul 27
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.

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 feedersaround Jul 11
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
Prune and stake tomatoesaround Jul 18
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow. The main defense against blight in humid heat.
Shade the cool-season bedaround Jul 25
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.

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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