What to plant in July — zone 4b
Zone 4b averages its last spring frost around May 15 and its first fall frost around September 25. 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
- Beetaround Jul 3
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Carrotaround Jul 3
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround Jul 10
Sowing 4: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround Jul 10
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround Jul 10
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround Jul 10
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound Jul 17
Sowing 3: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround Jul 31
Sowing 4: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
Garden care
- Prune and stake tomatoesaround Jul 3
Pull suckers and lower leaves for airflow — the main defense against blight in humid heat.
- Shade the cool-season bedaround Jul 10
30-40% shade cloth keeps lettuce, cilantro and spinach from bolting in peak heat.
- Scout for pests weeklyaround Jul 17
Squash bugs, hornworms and cucumber beetles peak now — five minutes of hand-picking beats a rescue spray.
Direct sow for fall
- Beetaround Jul 4
Fall beet window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Dillaround Jul 4
Fall dill window opens — sowing now beats the last-minute date by a month of growth.
- Spinacharound Jul 16
Succession sowing 3 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Lettucearound Jul 16
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Parsleyaround Jul 17
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Cilantroaround Jul 21
Succession sowing 2 of 3 — sow every 21 days for a steady cut.
- Bush beanaround Jul 22
Counts back 55 days from your first frost. Frost-tender — must finish before frost.
- Peaaround Jul 27
Counts back 60 days from your first frost. Takes a light frost with cover.
- Carrotaround Jul 28
Counts back 70 days from your first frost. Frost-hardy — light freezes sweeten it.
Start indoors for fall
- Kalearound Jul 15
Seedlings need 4 weeks before they go out for a fall harvest.
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