My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in District of Columbia

In District of Columbia (DC), July is the heart of the growing season - about 14 weeks after the last frost (April 10) and 15 weeks before the first (October 25). The state averages 198 frost-free days a year (last frost April 10, first frost October 25; USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a).

18 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber - and 1 of those windows close during July.

Dates here come from District of Columbia frost dates (last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 25). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in District of Columbia.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 18Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 43

District of Columbia: planting activity through the year

8
36
64
84
54
10
18
36
18
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 10 – Oct 25
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 18 have one in July; the busiest month is April (84).

Last chance in July

Brussels Sprouts (start transplants for fall, by Jul 12)

For fall and winter harvests (12)

Sowings counted back from District of Columbia'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 fallJun 25 – Jul 12Last chance - ends Jul 12
RutabagaSow for a fall cropJul 9 – Jul 26Jul 9 – Jul 26
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJul 16 – Aug 2Opens Jul 16
CabbageStart transplants for fallJul 16 – Aug 2Opens Jul 16
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJul 16 – Aug 2Opens Jul 16
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Opens Jul 23
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Opens Jul 23
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 23 – Aug 9Opens Jul 23
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Opens Jul 30
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Opens Jul 30
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 30 – Aug 16Opens Jul 30
RadicchioSow 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.

Radicchio · May 26 – Jul 5Tarragon · Jun 2 – Jul 2Potato · Jun 5 – Jul 25Fennel (Bulb) · Jun 7 – Jul 2Mint · Jun 12 – Jul 2Lemon Balm · Jun 12 – Jul 2Cucumber · Jun 13 – Jul 3Tomato · Jun 16 – Jul 11Sweet Corn · Jun 16 – Jul 26Sweet Marjoram · Jun 16 – Jul 6Onion · Jun 18 – Jul 18Shallot · Jun 18 – Jul 18Bitter Melon · Jun 18 – Jul 8Malabar Spinach · Jun 18 – Jul 3Endive & Escarole · Jun 20 – Jul 5Bell Pepper · Jun 23 – Jul 23Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jun 23 – Jul 23Thyme · Jun 24 – Jul 9Sage · Jun 24 – Jul 9Brussels Sprouts · Jun 25 – Jul 25Ground Cherry · Jun 26 – Jul 16Sunflower · Jun 26 – Jul 26Shiso (Perilla) · Jun 26 – Jul 16Lima Bean · Jun 28 – Jul 28Cucamelon · Jun 28 – Jul 8Oregano · Jun 29 – Jul 9Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 1 – Jul 26Tomatillo · Jul 1 – Jul 26Chili Pepper · Jul 3 – Aug 2Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 3 – Jul 23Watermelon · Jul 3 – Aug 2Eggplant · Jul 5 – Jul 25Leek · Jul 5 – Aug 24Winter Squash · Jul 6 – Aug 5Parsnip · Jul 12 – Aug 11Salsify · Jul 15 – Aug 24Pumpkin · Jul 16 – Aug 15Rosemary · Jul 16 – Aug 15Celery · Jul 19 – Aug 28Celeriac · Jul 19 – Aug 8Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 23 – Sep 21Peanut · Jul 26 – Sep 14Sweet Potato · Jul 30 – Aug 29

Planting dates for popular crops in District of Columbia

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

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

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in District of Columbia

  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. 15 weeks until the average first frost (October 25). 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: radicchio, tarragon, potato, fennel (bulb) should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for District of Columbia

District of Columbia spans USDA zones 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 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in District of Columbia in July?

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

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in District of Columbia in July?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in District of Columbia have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 13.

Is it too late to plant lettuce in District of Columbia in July?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In District of Columbia the next lettuce window opens around August 20: sow for a fall crop.

When is the first frost in District of Columbia?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 25 and the last spring frost around April 10. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in District of Columbia in July?

From plantings made on time: radicchio, tarragon, potato, fennel (bulb), mint, lemon balm, cucumber, tomato, sweet corn, sweet marjoram.

← June in District of ColumbiaAugust in District of Columbia →Full-year District of Columbia planting calendar →District of Columbia frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

DelawareMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaVirginiaWest VirginiaAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from District of Columbia’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.