My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in Colorado

In Colorado (CO), July is the heart of the growing season - about 10 weeks after the last frost (May 5) and 11 weeks before the first (October 1). The state averages 149 frost-free days a year (last frost May 5, first frost October 1; USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a).

34 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb) - and 7 of those windows close during July.

Dates here come from Colorado frost dates (last frost May 5, first frost Oct 1). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in Colorado.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 34Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 51

Colorado covers a very wide range of climates, so dates near you can be two weeks or more either side of these. Enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar for dates tuned to your town.

Colorado: planting activity through the year

0
8
50
70
84
45
34
22
1
2
0
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: May 5 – Oct 1
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 34 have one in July; the busiest month is May (84).

Last chance in July

Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 2) · Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Jul 9) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Jul 9) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Jul 9) · Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 16) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 16) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 16)

For fall and winter harvests (29)

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

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
RutabagaSow for a fall cropJun 15 – Jul 2Last chance - ends Jul 2
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJun 22 – Jul 9Last chance - ends Jul 9
CabbageStart transplants for fallJun 22 – Jul 9Last chance - ends Jul 9
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJun 22 – Jul 9Last chance - ends Jul 9
CucumberSow for a fall cropJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
ParsleySow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
PeaSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
BeetSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
BorageSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
DillSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
LettuceSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
MizunaSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27

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.

Napa Cabbage · Jun 10 – Jul 5Amaranth (Leaf) · Jun 11 – Jul 1Cabbage · Jun 13 – Jul 23Carrot · Jun 13 – Jul 3Dill · Jun 14 – Jul 4Borage · Jun 15 – Jul 5Basil · Jun 18 – Jul 18Broccoli · Jun 20 – Jul 15Cauliflower · Jun 20 – Jul 20Radicchio · Jun 20 – Jul 30Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Jun 21 – Jul 6Zucchini / Summer Squash · Jun 26 – Jul 11Tarragon · Jun 27 – Jul 27Potato · Jun 30 – Aug 19Parsley · Jun 30 – Jul 20Bush Bean · Jul 1 – Jul 11New Zealand Spinach · Jul 1 – Jul 21Fennel (Bulb) · Jul 2 – Jul 27Summer Savory · Jul 6 – Jul 21Mint · Jul 7 – Jul 27Lemon Balm · Jul 7 – Jul 27Cucumber · Jul 8 – Jul 28Okra · Jul 8 – Jul 23Tomato · Jul 11 – Aug 5Pole Bean · Jul 11 – Jul 21Sweet Corn · Jul 11 – Aug 20Sweet Marjoram · Jul 11 – Jul 31Onion · Jul 13 – Aug 12Shallot · Jul 13 – Aug 12Bitter Melon · Jul 13 – Aug 2Malabar Spinach · Jul 13 – Jul 28Endive & Escarole · Jul 15 – Jul 30Bell Pepper · Jul 18 – Aug 17Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 18 – Aug 17Thyme · Jul 19 – Aug 3Sage · Jul 19 – Aug 3Brussels Sprouts · Jul 20 – Aug 19Ground Cherry · Jul 21 – Aug 10Sunflower · Jul 21 – Aug 20Shiso (Perilla) · Jul 21 – Aug 10Lima Bean · Jul 23 – Aug 22Cucamelon · Jul 23 – Aug 2Oregano · Jul 24 – Aug 3Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 26 – Aug 20Tomatillo · Jul 26 – Aug 20Chili Pepper · Jul 28 – Aug 27Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 28 – Aug 17Watermelon · Jul 28 – Aug 27Eggplant · Jul 30 – Aug 19Leek · Jul 30 – Sep 18Winter Squash · Jul 31 – Aug 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Colorado

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

When to plant broccoli in Colorado →When to plant cabbage in Colorado →When to plant cauliflower in Colorado →When to plant cucumber in Colorado →When to plant zucchini in Colorado →When to plant bush bean in Colorado →When to plant carrot in Colorado →When to plant kale in Colorado →Colorado frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in Colorado

  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. 11 weeks until the average first frost (October 1). Fall crops start now: rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. 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: napa cabbage, amaranth (leaf), cabbage, carrot should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Colorado

Colorado spans USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a. 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 3May 15Sep 15120 days
Zone 4May 10Sep 25135 days
Zone 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Colorado in July?

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

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Colorado have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about March 10.

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

No - sow for a fall crop runs Jul 27 – Aug 13 in Colorado.

When is the first frost in Colorado?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 1 and the last spring frost around May 5. Colorado covers a wide range of climates, so local dates can differ by two weeks or more - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Colorado in July?

From plantings made on time: napa cabbage, amaranth (leaf), cabbage, carrot, dill, borage, basil, broccoli, cauliflower, radicchio.

← June in ColoradoAugust in Colorado →Full-year Colorado planting calendar →Colorado frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

IdahoMontanaNevadaUtahWyomingAlabamaAlaskaArizonaAll states →

Dates are computed from Colorado’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.