What to plant in July — zone 3b
Zone 3b averages its last spring frost around May 25 and its first fall frost around September 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Start indoors for fall
- Kalearound Jul 5
Seedlings need 4 weeks before they go out for a fall harvest.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround Jul 6
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Garden care
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround Jul 6
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
- Prune and stake tomatoesaround Jul 13
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow — the main defense against blight in humid heat.
- Shade the cool-season bedaround Jul 20
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.
- Scout for pests weeklyaround Jul 27
Squash bugs, hornworms and cucumber beetles peak now — five minutes of hand-picking beats a rescue spray.
Direct sow for fall
- Spinacharound Jul 6
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Lettucearound Jul 6
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Parsleyaround Jul 7
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Cilantroaround Jul 11
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Bush beanaround Jul 12
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
- Peaaround Jul 17
Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Carrotaround Jul 18
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy — light freezes sweeten it.
- Beetaround Jul 22
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Dillaround Jul 22
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
- Spinacharound Jul 27
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Lettucearound Jul 27
Counts back 50 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Radisharound Jul 30
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 14 days for a steady cut.
Transplant for fall
- Broccoliaround Jul 23
Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 09-15.
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