My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in Virginia

In Virginia (VA), July is the heart of the growing season - about 13 weeks after the last frost (April 15) and 14 weeks before the first (October 20). The state averages 188 frost-free days a year (last frost April 15, first frost October 20; USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 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 Virginia frost dates (last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 20). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in Virginia.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 18Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 47

Virginia 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.

Virginia: planting activity through the year

5
29
65
90
58
10
18
35
19
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 15 – Oct 20
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 (90).

Last chance in July

Brussels Sprouts (start transplants for fall, by Jul 7)

For fall and winter harvests (12)

Sowings counted back from Virginia'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 20 – Jul 7Last chance - ends Jul 7
RutabagaSow for a fall cropJul 4 – Jul 21Jul 4 – Jul 21
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
CabbageStart transplants for fallJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJul 11 – Jul 28Jul 11 – Jul 28
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 18 – Aug 4Opens Jul 18
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Opens Jul 25
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Opens Jul 25
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 25 – Aug 11Opens Jul 25
RadicchioSow 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.

Cabbage · May 24 – Jul 3Radicchio · May 31 – Jul 10Tarragon · Jun 7 – Jul 7Potato · Jun 10 – Jul 30New Zealand Spinach · Jun 11 – Jul 1Fennel (Bulb) · Jun 12 – Jul 7Summer Savory · Jun 16 – Jul 1Mint · Jun 17 – Jul 7Lemon Balm · Jun 17 – Jul 7Cucumber · Jun 18 – Jul 8Okra · Jun 18 – Jul 3Tomato · Jun 21 – Jul 16Pole Bean · Jun 21 – Jul 1Sweet Corn · Jun 21 – Jul 31Sweet Marjoram · Jun 21 – Jul 11Onion · Jun 23 – Jul 23Shallot · Jun 23 – Jul 23Bitter Melon · Jun 23 – Jul 13Malabar Spinach · Jun 23 – Jul 8Endive & Escarole · Jun 25 – Jul 10Bell Pepper · Jun 28 – Jul 28Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jun 28 – Jul 28Thyme · Jun 29 – Jul 14Sage · Jun 29 – Jul 14Brussels Sprouts · Jun 30 – Jul 30Ground Cherry · Jul 1 – Jul 21Sunflower · Jul 1 – Jul 31Shiso (Perilla) · Jul 1 – Jul 21Lima Bean · Jul 3 – Aug 2Cucamelon · Jul 3 – Jul 13Oregano · Jul 4 – Jul 14Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 6 – Jul 31Tomatillo · Jul 6 – Jul 31Chili Pepper · Jul 8 – Aug 7Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 8 – Jul 28Watermelon · Jul 8 – Aug 7Eggplant · Jul 10 – Jul 30Leek · Jul 10 – Aug 29Winter Squash · Jul 11 – Aug 10Parsnip · Jul 17 – Aug 16Salsify · Jul 20 – Aug 29Pumpkin · Jul 21 – Aug 20Rosemary · Jul 21 – Aug 20Celery · Jul 24 – Sep 2Celeriac · Jul 24 – Aug 13Luffa (Loofah Gourd) · Jul 28 – Sep 26Peanut · Jul 31 – Sep 19

Planting dates for popular crops in Virginia

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

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

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in Virginia

  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. 14 weeks until the average first frost (October 20). 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: cabbage, radicchio, tarragon, potato should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.

USDA zone chart for Virginia

Virginia spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 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 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Virginia 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 Virginia in July?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Virginia have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about February 18.

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

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Virginia the next lettuce window opens around August 15: sow for a fall crop.

When is the first frost in Virginia?

The statewide average first fall frost is around October 20 and the last spring frost around April 15. Virginia 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 Virginia in July?

From plantings made on time: cabbage, radicchio, tarragon, potato, new zealand spinach, fennel (bulb), summer savory, mint, lemon balm, cucumber.

← June in VirginiaAugust in Virginia →Full-year Virginia planting calendar →Virginia frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

DelawareDistrict of ColumbiaMarylandNew JerseyPennsylvaniaWest VirginiaAlabamaAlaskaAll states →

Dates are computed from Virginia’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.