What to plant in July in zone 3
USDA zone 3 has winter lows of -40 to -30°F, a typical last spring frost around May 15 and first fall frost around Sep 15, roughly 120 frost-free days. July is the "peak growing season" there.
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 come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 3 (last frost May 15, first frost Sep 15). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 3: planting activity through the year
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 zone 3's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bush Bean | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 20 – Jul 7 | Last chance - ends Jul 7 |
| Carrot | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 20 – Jul 7 | Last chance - ends Jul 7 |
| Kale | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 20 – Jul 7 | Last chance - ends Jul 7 |
| Radicchio | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 20 – Jul 7 | Last chance - ends Jul 7 |
| Collard Greens | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 27 – Jul 14 | Last chance - ends Jul 14 |
| Endive & Escarole | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 27 – Jul 14 | Last chance - ends Jul 14 |
| Napa Cabbage | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 27 – Jul 14 | Last chance - ends Jul 14 |
| Parsley | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 27 – Jul 14 | Last chance - ends Jul 14 |
| Pea | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 27 – Jul 14 | Last chance - ends Jul 14 |
| Swiss Chard | Sow for a fall crop | Jun 27 – Jul 14 | Last chance - ends Jul 14 |
| Beet | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 4 – Jul 21 | Jul 4 – Jul 21 |
| Cilantro / Coriander | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 4 – Jul 21 | Jul 4 – Jul 21 |
| Bok Choy / Pak Choi | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Borage | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Dill | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Fava Bean (Broad Bean) | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Green Onion / Scallion | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Kohlrabi | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Lettuce | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Mache (Corn Salad) | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Mizuna | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Rapini (Broccoli Raab) | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 11 – Jul 28 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Chervil | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 18 – Aug 4 | Opens Jul 18 |
| Mustard Greens | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 18 – Aug 4 | Opens Jul 18 |
| Spinach | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 18 – Aug 4 | Opens Jul 18 |
| Tatsoi | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 18 – Aug 4 | Opens Jul 18 |
| Turnip | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 18 – Aug 4 | Opens Jul 18 |
| Arugula | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 25 – Aug 11 | Opens Jul 25 |
| Watercress | Sow for a fall crop | Jul 25 – Aug 11 | Opens Jul 25 |
Harvesting in July
First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.
Peak growing season: July garden jobs in zone 3
- 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.
- 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.
- Check the undersides of leaves twice a week - catching pests early is most of the battle (pest identification guide).
- Harvest often: cilantro / coriander, green onion / scallion, collard greens, napa cabbage should be coming in. Picking regularly keeps beans, squash and cucumbers producing.
Questions gardeners ask
What can I plant in zone 3 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.
When are the last and first frost in zone 3?
The typical last spring frost is around May 15 and the first fall frost around Sep 15. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.
What can I harvest in zone 3 in July?
From plantings made on time: cilantro / coriander, green onion / scallion, collard greens, napa cabbage, amaranth (leaf), cabbage, carrot, dill, borage, basil.
July in states with land in zone 3
Zone 3 in other months
What to plant in July in other zones
Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.