My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in Iowa

In Iowa (IA), July is the heart of the growing season - about 12 weeks after the last frost (April 25) and 12 weeks before the first (October 8). The state averages 166 frost-free days a year (last frost April 25, first frost October 8; USDA zones 4b, 5a, 5b).

25 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel (bulb) - and 4 of those windows close during July.

Dates here come from Iowa frost dates (last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 8). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in Iowa.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 25Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 49

Iowa: planting activity through the year

1
24
65
78
66
14
25
29
3
2
1
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 25 – Oct 8
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 25 have one in July; the busiest month is April (78).

Last chance in July

Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 9) · Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Jul 16) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Jul 16) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Jul 16)

For fall and winter harvests (19)

Sowings counted back from Iowa'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 22 – Jul 9Last chance - ends Jul 9
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
CabbageStart transplants for fallJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
ParsleySow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
PeaSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
BeetSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Cilantro / CorianderSow 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.

Cabbage · Jun 3 – Jul 13Basil · Jun 8 – Jul 8Broccoli · Jun 10 – Jul 5Cauliflower · Jun 10 – Jul 10Radicchio · Jun 10 – Jul 20Zucchini / Summer Squash · Jun 16 – Jul 1Tarragon · Jun 17 – Jul 17Potato · Jun 20 – Aug 9Parsley · Jun 20 – Jul 10Bush Bean · Jun 21 – Jul 1New Zealand Spinach · Jun 21 – Jul 11Fennel (Bulb) · Jun 22 – Jul 17Summer Savory · Jun 26 – Jul 11Mint · Jun 27 – Jul 17Lemon Balm · Jun 27 – Jul 17Cucumber · Jun 28 – Jul 18Okra · Jun 28 – Jul 13Tomato · Jul 1 – Jul 26Pole Bean · Jul 1 – Jul 11Sweet Corn · Jul 1 – Aug 10Sweet Marjoram · Jul 1 – Jul 21Onion · Jul 3 – Aug 2Shallot · Jul 3 – Aug 2Bitter Melon · Jul 3 – Jul 23Malabar Spinach · Jul 3 – Jul 18Endive & Escarole · Jul 5 – Jul 20Bell Pepper · Jul 8 – Aug 7Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 8 – Aug 7Thyme · Jul 9 – Jul 24Sage · Jul 9 – Jul 24Brussels Sprouts · Jul 10 – Aug 9Ground Cherry · Jul 11 – Jul 31Sunflower · Jul 11 – Aug 10Shiso (Perilla) · Jul 11 – Jul 31Lima Bean · Jul 13 – Aug 12Cucamelon · Jul 13 – Jul 23Oregano · Jul 14 – Jul 24Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 16 – Aug 10Tomatillo · Jul 16 – Aug 10Chili Pepper · Jul 18 – Aug 17Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 18 – Aug 7Watermelon · Jul 18 – Aug 17Eggplant · Jul 20 – Aug 9Leek · Jul 20 – Sep 8Winter Squash · Jul 21 – Aug 20Parsnip · Jul 27 – Aug 26Salsify · Jul 30 – Sep 8Pumpkin · Jul 31 – Aug 30Rosemary · Jul 31 – Aug 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Iowa

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

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

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in Iowa

  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. 12 weeks until the average first frost (October 8). 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: cabbage, basil, broccoli, cauliflower should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Iowa

Iowa spans USDA zones 4b, 5a, 5b. 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 4May 10Sep 25135 days
Zone 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Iowa in July?

25 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 Iowa in July?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Iowa have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 28.

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

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Iowa the next lettuce window opens around August 3: sow for a fall crop.

When is the first frost in Iowa?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 8 and the last spring frost around April 25. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Iowa in July?

From plantings made on time: cabbage, basil, broccoli, cauliflower, radicchio, zucchini / summer squash, tarragon, potato, parsley, bush bean.

← June in IowaAugust in Iowa →Full-year Iowa planting calendar →Iowa frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

IllinoisIndianaMichiganMinnesotaMissouriOhioWisconsinAlabamaAll states →

Dates are computed from Iowa’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.