My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in zone 5

USDA zone 5 has winter lows of -20 to -10°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 30 and first fall frost around Oct 5, roughly 160 frost-free days. July is the "peak growing season" there.

35 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 come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 5 (last frost Apr 30, first frost Oct 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

Peak growing seasonSow or plant: 35Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 46

Zone 5: planting activity through the year

0
18
53
76
69
28
35
28
1
2
1
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 30 – Oct 5
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 35 have one in July; the busiest month is April (76).

Last chance in July

Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 6) · Broccoli (start transplants for fall, by Jul 13) · Cabbage (start transplants for fall, by Jul 13) · Cauliflower (start transplants for fall, by Jul 13)

For fall and winter harvests (29)

Sowings counted back from zone 5'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 19 – Jul 6Last chance - ends Jul 6
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJun 26 – Jul 13Last chance - ends Jul 13
CabbageStart transplants for fallJun 26 – Jul 13Last chance - ends Jul 13
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJun 26 – Jul 13Last chance - ends Jul 13
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 3 – Jul 20Jul 3 – Jul 20
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 3 – Jul 20Jul 3 – Jul 20
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 3 – Jul 20Jul 3 – Jul 20
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 10 – Jul 27Jul 10 – Jul 27
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 10 – Jul 27Jul 10 – Jul 27
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 10 – Jul 27Jul 10 – Jul 27
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 10 – Jul 27Jul 10 – Jul 27
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 17 – Aug 3Opens Jul 17
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJul 17 – Aug 3Opens Jul 17
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJul 17 – Aug 3Opens Jul 17
ParsleySow for a fall cropJul 17 – Aug 3Opens Jul 17
PeaSow for a fall cropJul 17 – Aug 3Opens Jul 17
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJul 17 – Aug 3Opens Jul 17
BeetSow for a fall cropJul 24 – Aug 10Opens Jul 24
Cilantro / CorianderSow for a fall cropJul 24 – Aug 10Opens Jul 24
Bok Choy / Pak ChoiSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
BorageSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
DillSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
Fava Bean (Broad Bean)Sow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
Green Onion / ScallionSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
KohlrabiSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
LettuceSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
Mache (Corn Salad)Sow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
MizunaSow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31
Rapini (Broccoli Raab)Sow for a fall cropJul 31 – Aug 17Opens Jul 31

Harvesting in July

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Cabbage · Jun 8 – Jul 18Basil · Jun 13 – Jul 13Broccoli · Jun 15 – Jul 10Cauliflower · Jun 15 – Jul 15Radicchio · Jun 15 – Jul 25Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Jun 16 – Jul 1Zucchini / Summer Squash · Jun 21 – Jul 6Tarragon · Jun 22 – Jul 22Potato · Jun 25 – Aug 14Parsley · Jun 25 – Jul 15Bush Bean · Jun 26 – Jul 6New Zealand Spinach · Jun 26 – Jul 16Fennel (Bulb) · Jun 27 – Jul 22Summer Savory · Jul 1 – Jul 16Mint · Jul 2 – Jul 22Lemon Balm · Jul 2 – Jul 22Cucumber · Jul 3 – Jul 23Okra · Jul 3 – Jul 18Tomato · Jul 6 – Jul 31Pole Bean · Jul 6 – Jul 16Sweet Corn · Jul 6 – Aug 15Sweet Marjoram · Jul 6 – Jul 26Onion · Jul 8 – Aug 7Shallot · Jul 8 – Aug 7Bitter Melon · Jul 8 – Jul 28Malabar Spinach · Jul 8 – Jul 23Endive & Escarole · Jul 10 – Jul 25Bell Pepper · Jul 13 – Aug 12Southern Pea (Cowpea) · Jul 13 – Aug 12Thyme · Jul 14 – Jul 29Sage · Jul 14 – Jul 29Brussels Sprouts · Jul 15 – Aug 14Ground Cherry · Jul 16 – Aug 5Sunflower · Jul 16 – Aug 15Shiso (Perilla) · Jul 16 – Aug 5Lima Bean · Jul 18 – Aug 17Cucamelon · Jul 18 – Jul 28Oregano · Jul 19 – Jul 29Edamame (Soybean) · Jul 21 – Aug 15Tomatillo · Jul 21 – Aug 15Chili Pepper · Jul 23 – Aug 22Cantaloupe / Muskmelon · Jul 23 – Aug 12Watermelon · Jul 23 – Aug 22Eggplant · Jul 25 – Aug 14Leek · Jul 25 – Sep 13Winter Squash · Jul 26 – Aug 25

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in zone 5

  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 5). 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.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 5 in July?

35 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.

When are the last and first frost in zone 5?

The typical last spring frost is around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 5. 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 5 in July?

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

July in states with land in zone 5

AlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichigan

Zone 5 in other months

FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberZone 5 overview →

What to plant in July in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9Zone 10All states →

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.