What to plant in July — zone 4a
Zone 4a averages its last spring frost around May 20 and its first fall frost around September 20. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround Jul 1
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound Jul 1
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Beetaround Jul 8
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround Jul 15
Sowing 4: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround Jul 15
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround Jul 15
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround Jul 15
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Garden care
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround Jul 1
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
- Prune and stake tomatoesaround Jul 8
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow — the main defense against blight in humid heat.
- Shade the cool-season bedaround Jul 15
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.
- Scout for pests weeklyaround Jul 22
Squash bugs, hornworms and cucumber beetles peak now — five minutes of hand-picking beats a rescue spray.
Start indoors for fall
- Kalearound Jul 10
Seedlings need 4 weeks before they go out for a fall harvest.
Direct sow for fall
- Spinacharound Jul 11
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Lettucearound Jul 11
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Parsleyaround Jul 12
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Cilantroaround Jul 16
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Bush beanaround Jul 17
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
- Peaaround Jul 22
Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Carrotaround Jul 23
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy — light freezes sweeten it.
- Beetaround Jul 27
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Dillaround Jul 27
Counts back 45 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
Transplant for fall
- Broccoliaround Jul 28
Last safe transplant date to mature (65 days) before frost on 09-20.
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