My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in Montana

In Montana (MT), July is the heart of the growing season - about 9 weeks after the last frost (May 15) and 9 weeks before the first (September 15). The state averages 123 frost-free days a year (last frost May 15, first frost September 15; USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a).

34 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio, collard greens, endive & escarole - and 10 of those windows close during July.

Dates here come from Montana frost dates (last frost May 15, first frost Sep 15). For one crop in detail, see when to plant bush bean, carrot or kale in Montana.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 34Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 43

Montana 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.

Montana: planting activity through the year

0
5
29
65
91
69
34
8
2
2
0
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: May 15 – Sep 15
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 (91).

Last chance in July

Bush Bean (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 7) · Carrot (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 7) · Kale (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 7) · Radicchio (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 7) · Collard Greens (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 14) · Endive & Escarole (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 14) · Napa Cabbage (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 14) · Parsley (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 14) · Pea (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 14) · Swiss Chard (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 14)

For fall and winter harvests (29)

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

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJun 20 – Jul 7Last chance - ends Jul 7
CarrotSow for a fall cropJun 20 – Jul 7Last chance - ends Jul 7
KaleSow for a fall cropJun 20 – Jul 7Last chance - ends Jul 7
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJun 20 – Jul 7Last chance - ends Jul 7
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJun 27 – Jul 14Last chance - ends Jul 14
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJun 27 – Jul 14Last chance - ends Jul 14
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJun 27 – Jul 14Last chance - ends Jul 14
ParsleySow for a fall cropJun 27 – Jul 14Last chance - ends Jul 14
PeaSow for a fall cropJun 27 – Jul 14Last chance - ends Jul 14
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJun 27 – Jul 14Last chance - ends Jul 14
BeetSow for a fall cropJul 4 – Jul 21Jul 4 – Jul 21
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropJul 4 – Jul 21Jul 4 – Jul 21
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
BorageSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
DillSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
LettuceSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
MizunaSow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
ChervilSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
Mustard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
SpinachSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
TatsoiSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
TurnipSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
ArugulaSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Opens Jul 25
WatercressSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Opens Jul 25

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.

Cilantro / Coriander · Jun 15 – Jul 10Green Onion / Scallion · Jun 16 – Jul 6Collard Greens · Jun 18 – Jul 8Napa Cabbage · Jun 20 – Jul 15Amaranth (Leaf) · Jun 21 – Jul 11Cabbage · Jun 23 – Aug 2Carrot · Jun 23 – Jul 13Dill · Jun 24 – Jul 14Borage · Jun 25 – Jul 15Basil · Jun 28 – Jul 28Broccoli · Jun 30 – Jul 25Cauliflower · Jun 30 – Jul 30Radicchio · Jun 30 – Aug 9Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Jul 1 – Jul 16Zucchini / Summer Squash · Jul 6 – Jul 21Tarragon · Jul 7 – Aug 6Potato · Jul 10 – Aug 29Parsley · Jul 10 – Jul 30Bush Bean · Jul 11 – Jul 21New Zealand Spinach · Jul 11 – Jul 31Fennel (Bulb) · Jul 12 – Aug 6Summer Savory · Jul 16 – Jul 31Mint · Jul 17 – Aug 6Lemon Balm · Jul 17 – Aug 6Cucumber · Jul 18 – Aug 7Okra · Jul 18 – Aug 2Tomato · Jul 21 – Aug 15Pole Bean · Jul 21 – Jul 31Sweet Corn · Jul 21 – Aug 30Sweet Marjoram · Jul 21 – Aug 10Onion · Jul 23 – Aug 22Shallot · Jul 23 – Aug 22Bitter Melon · Jul 23 – Aug 12Malabar Spinach · Jul 23 – Aug 7Endive & Escarole · Jul 25 – Aug 9Bell Pepper · Jul 28 – Aug 27Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 28 – Aug 27Thyme · Jul 29 – Aug 13Sage · Jul 29 – Aug 13Brussels Sprouts · Jul 30 – Aug 29Ground Cherry · Jul 31 – Aug 20Sunflower · Jul 31 – Aug 30Shiso (Perilla) · Jul 31 – Aug 20

Planting dates for popular crops in Montana

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

When to plant bush bean in Montana →When to plant carrot in Montana →When to plant kale in Montana →When to plant pea in Montana →When to plant swiss chard in Montana →When to plant beet in Montana →When to plant lettuce in Montana →When to plant spinach in Montana →Montana frost dates by zone →

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in Montana

  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. 9 weeks until the average first frost (September 15). Fall crops start now: bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio. 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: cilantro / coriander, green onion / scallion, collard greens, napa cabbage should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Montana

Montana spans USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a. 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

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Montana in July?

34 crops have a window in July: bush bean, carrot, kale, radicchio, collard greens, endive & escarole, napa cabbage, parsley, pea, swiss chard and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

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

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Montana have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about March 20.

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

No - sow for a fall crop runs Jul 11 – Jul 28 in Montana, so do it before July 28.

When is the first frost in Montana?

The statewide average first fall frost is around September 15 and the last spring frost around May 15. Montana 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 Montana in July?

From plantings made on time: cilantro / coriander, green onion / scallion, collard greens, napa cabbage, amaranth (leaf), cabbage, carrot, dill, borage, basil.

← June in MontanaAugust in Montana →Full-year Montana planting calendar →Montana frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

ColoradoIdahoNevadaUtahWyomingAlabamaAlaskaArizonaAll states →

Dates are computed from Montana’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.