Zone 3b planting calendar

What to plant in July: zone 3b

A rule-of-thumb starting point for zone 3b: last spring frost around May 25, first fall frost around September 15. 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 25
Typical first frost: September 15
Winter lows: -35 to -30 °F
Zone 3b Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

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.

  • Basilaround Jul 20

    Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

Garden care

  • Side-dress heavy feeders4 sowings: Jul 6 and Jul 13 and Jul 20 and Jul 27

    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.

Direct sow for fall

  • Spinach2 sowings: Jul 6 and Jul 27

    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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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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