My Planting Calendar

What to plant in July in zone 6

USDA zone 6 has winter lows of -10 to 0°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 15 and first fall frost around Oct 15, roughly 185 frost-free days. July is the "peak growing season" there.

24 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including brussels sprouts, rutabaga, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber - and 2 of those windows close during July.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 6 (last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 15). 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: 24Start indoors: 0Harvesting: 47

Zone 6: planting activity through the year

5
29
65
90
58
11
24
34
8
2
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 15 – Oct 15
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 24 have one in July; the busiest month is April (90).

Last chance in July

Brussels Sprouts (start transplants for fall, by Jul 2) · Rutabaga (sow for a fall crop, by Jul 16)

For fall and winter harvests (18)

Sowings counted back from zone 6'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 15 – Jul 2Last chance - ends Jul 2
RutabagaSow for a fall cropJun 29 – Jul 16Last chance - ends Jul 16
BroccoliStart transplants for fallJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
CabbageStart transplants for fallJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
CauliflowerStart transplants for fallJul 6 – Jul 23Jul 6 – Jul 23
CucumberSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Fennel (Bulb)Sow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Zucchini / Summer SquashSow for a fall cropJul 13 – Jul 30Jul 13 – Jul 30
Bush BeanSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
CarrotSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
KaleSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
RadicchioSow for a fall cropJul 20 – Aug 6Opens Jul 20
Collard GreensSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Endive & EscaroleSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Napa CabbageSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
ParsleySow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
PeaSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27
Swiss ChardSow for a fall cropJul 27 – Aug 13Opens Jul 27

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

Peak growing season: July garden jobs in zone 6

  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. 13 weeks until the average first frost (October 15). 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.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 6 in July?

24 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.

When are the last and first frost in zone 6?

The typical last spring frost is around Apr 15 and the first fall frost around Oct 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 6 in July?

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

July in states with land in zone 6

AlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyMaineMarylandMassachusetts

Zone 6 in other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberZone 6 overview →

What to plant in July in other zones

Zone 3Zone 4Zone 5Zone 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.