My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in Arkansas

In Arkansas (AR), July is the heart of the growing season - about 15 weeks after the last frost (April 3) and 16 weeks before the first (November 1). The state averages 212 frost-free days a year (last frost April 3, first frost November 1; USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a).

15 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber.

Dates here come from Arkansas frost dates (last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 1). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in Arkansas.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 15Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 34

Arkansas: planting activity through the year

18
46
70
78
40
9
15
31
21
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 3 – Nov 1
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 15 have one in July; the busiest month is April (78).

For fall and winter harvests (8)

Sowings counted back from Arkansas's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
Brussels SproutsStart transplants for fallJul 2 – Jul 19Jul 2 – Jul 19
RutabagaSow for a fall cropJul 16 – Aug 2Opens Jul 16
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJul 23 – Aug 9Opens Jul 23
CabbageStart transplants for fallJul 23 – Aug 9Opens Jul 23
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJul 23 – Aug 9Opens Jul 23
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Opens Jul 30
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Opens Jul 30
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Opens Jul 30

Keep sowing (succession)

Repeat sowings of crops already in the ground, for a steady harvest instead of a glut.

Harvesting in July

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Potato · May 29 – Jul 18Tomato · Jun 9 – Jul 4Sweet Corn · Jun 9 – Jul 19Onion · Jun 11 – Jul 11Shallot · Jun 11 – Jul 11Bitter Melon · Jun 11 – Jul 1Bell Pepper · Jun 16 – Jul 16Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jun 16 – Jul 16Thyme · Jun 17 – Jul 2Sage · Jun 17 – Jul 2Brussels Sprouts · Jun 18 – Jul 18Ground Cherry · Jun 19 – Jul 9Sunflower · Jun 19 – Jul 19Shiso (Perilla) · Jun 19 – Jul 9Lima Bean · Jun 21 – Jul 21Cucamelon · Jun 21 – Jul 1Oregano · Jun 22 – Jul 2Edamame (Soybean) · Jun 24 – Jul 19Tomatillo · Jun 24 – Jul 19Chili Pepper · Jun 26 – Jul 26Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jun 26 – Jul 16Watermelon · Jun 26 – Jul 26Eggplant · Jun 28 – Jul 18Leek · Jun 28 – Aug 17Winter Squash · Jun 29 – Jul 29Parsnip · Jul 5 – Aug 4Salsify · Jul 8 – Aug 17Pumpkin · Jul 9 – Aug 8Rosemary · Jul 9 – Aug 8Celery · Jul 12 – Aug 21Celeriac · Jul 12 – Aug 1Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 16 – Sep 14Peanut · Jul 19 – Sep 7Sweet Potato · Jul 23 – Aug 22

Planting dates for popular crops in Arkansas

Every crop has its own full-year dates for Arkansas: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.

When to plant broccoli in Arkansas →When to plant cabbage in Arkansas →When to plant cauliflower in Arkansas →When to plant cucumber in Arkansas →When to plant zucchini in Arkansas →When to plant tomato in Arkansas →When to plant lettuce in Arkansas →When to plant garlic in Arkansas →Arkansas frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in Arkansas

  1. Water deeply two or three times a week rather than a little every day - about an inch a week, more in heat. See watering a vegetable garden.
  2. 16 weeks until the average first frost (November 1). Fall crops start now: brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage. See the fall and winter garden guide.
  3. Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
  4. Harvest often: potato, tomato, sweet corn, onion should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Arkansas

Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.

ZoneLast frostFirst frostSeason
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Arkansas in July?

15 crops have a window in July: brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb), zucchini / summer squash and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Arkansas in July?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Arkansas have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 6.

Is it too late to plant lettuce in Arkansas in July?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Arkansas the next lettuce window opens around August 27: sow for a fall crop.

When is the first frost in Arkansas?

The statewide average first fall frost is around November 1 and the last spring frost around April 3. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Arkansas in July?

From plantings made on time: potato, tomato, sweet corn, onion, shallot, bitter melon, bell pepper, southern pea (cowpea), thyme, sage.

← June in ArkansasAugust in Arkansas →Full-year Arkansas planting calendar →Arkansas frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

AlabamaFloridaLouisianaMississippiAlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoAll states →

Dates are computed from Arkansas’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.