My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin (WI), July is the heart of the growing season - about 9 weeks after the last frost (May 10) and 11 weeks before the first (September 30). The state averages 143 frost-free days a year (last frost May 10, first frost September 30; USDA zones 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b).

33 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 Wisconsin frost dates (last frost May 10, first frost Sep 30). For one crop in detail, see when to plant broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower in Wisconsin.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 33Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 48

Wisconsin: planting activity through the year

0
5
40
64
84
51
33
22
1
2
0
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: May 10 – Sep 30
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 33 have one in July; the busiest month is May (84).

Last chance in July

Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 1) · Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Jul 8) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Jul 8) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Jul 8) · Cucumber (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 15) · Fennel (Bulb) (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 15) · Zucchini / Summer Squash (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 15)

For fall and winter harvests (29)

Sowings counted back from Wisconsin'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 14 – Jul 1Last chance - ends Jul 1
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJun 21 – Jul 8Last chance - ends Jul 8
CabbageStart transplants for fallJun 21 – Jul 8Last chance - ends Jul 8
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJun 21 – Jul 8Last chance - ends Jul 8
CucumberSow for a fall cropJun 28 – Jul 15Last chance - ends Jul 15
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJun 28 – Jul 15Last chance - ends Jul 15
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJun 28 – Jul 15Last chance - ends Jul 15
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 5 – Jul 22Jul 5 – Jul 22
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 5 – Jul 22Jul 5 – Jul 22
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 5 – Jul 22Jul 5 – Jul 22
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 5 – Jul 22Jul 5 – Jul 22
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 12 – Jul 29Jul 12 – Jul 29
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJul 12 – Jul 29Jul 12 – Jul 29
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJul 12 – Jul 29Jul 12 – Jul 29
ParsleySow for a fall cropJul 12 – Jul 29Jul 12 – Jul 29
PeaSow for a fall cropJul 12 – Jul 29Jul 12 – Jul 29
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJul 12 – Jul 29Jul 12 – Jul 29
BeetSow for a fall cropJul 19 – Aug 5Opens Jul 19
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropJul 19 – Aug 5Opens Jul 19
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
BorageSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
DillSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
LettuceSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
MizunaSow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropJul 26 – Aug 12Opens Jul 26

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 10 – Jul 5Green Onion / Scallion · Jun 11 – Jul 1Collard Greens · Jun 13 – Jul 3Napa Cabbage · Jun 15 – Jul 10Amaranth (Leaf) · Jun 16 – Jul 6Cabbage · Jun 18 – Jul 28Carrot · Jun 18 – Jul 8Dill · Jun 19 – Jul 9Borage · Jun 20 – Jul 10Basil · Jun 23 – Jul 23Broccoli · Jun 25 – Jul 20Cauliflower · Jun 25 – Jul 25Radicchio · Jun 25 – Aug 4Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Jun 26 – Jul 11Zucchini / Summer Squash · Jul 1 – Jul 16Tarragon · Jul 2 – Aug 1Potato · Jul 5 – Aug 24Parsley · Jul 5 – Jul 25Bush Bean · Jul 6 – Jul 16New Zealand Spinach · Jul 6 – Jul 26Fennel (Bulb) · Jul 7 – Aug 1Summer Savory · Jul 11 – Jul 26Mint · Jul 12 – Aug 1Lemon Balm · Jul 12 – Aug 1Cucumber · Jul 13 – Aug 2Okra · Jul 13 – Jul 28Tomato · Jul 16 – Aug 10Pole Bean · Jul 16 – Jul 26Sweet Corn · Jul 16 – Aug 25Sweet Marjoram · Jul 16 – Aug 5Onion · Jul 18 – Aug 17Shallot · Jul 18 – Aug 17Bitter Melon · Jul 18 – Aug 7Malabar Spinach · Jul 18 – Aug 2Endive & Escarole · Jul 20 – Aug 4Bell Pepper · Jul 23 – Aug 22Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 23 – Aug 22Thyme · Jul 24 – Aug 8Sage · Jul 24 – Aug 8Brussels Sprouts · Jul 25 – Aug 24Ground Cherry · Jul 26 – Aug 15Sunflower · Jul 26 – Aug 25Shiso (Perilla) · Jul 26 – Aug 15Lima Bean · Jul 28 – Aug 27Cucamelon · Jul 28 – Aug 7Oregano · Jul 29 – Aug 8Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 31 – Aug 25Tomatillo · Jul 31 – Aug 25

Planting dates for popular crops in Wisconsin

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

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

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in Wisconsin

  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 (September 30). 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: 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 Wisconsin

Wisconsin spans USDA zones 3b, 4a, 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 3May 15Sep 15120 days
Zone 4May 10Sep 25135 days
Zone 5Apr 30Oct 5160 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Wisconsin in July?

33 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 Wisconsin in July?

For this year, yes - the tomato windows in Wisconsin have closed. The next step is to start seeds indoors from about March 15.

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

No - sow for a fall crop runs Jul 26 – Aug 12 in Wisconsin.

When is the first frost in Wisconsin?

The statewide average first fall frost is around September 30 and the last spring frost around May 10. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What can I harvest in Wisconsin 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 WisconsinAugust in Wisconsin →Full-year Wisconsin planting calendar →Wisconsin frost dates →

What to plant in July in other states

IllinoisIndianaIowaMichiganMinnesotaMissouriOhioAlabamaAll states →

Dates are computed from Wisconsin’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.