Vegetables to plant in July

This guide lists the best vegetables to plant in July for autumn harvest. Yes, now is the time to roll up your sleeves and get out to the veggie patch with your spade and seeds packets. Or…if you live in the north of England like me, your umbrella! Surely, it’ll stop raining at some point!

While many gardeners focus on spring planting, savvy organic vegetable growers know that late summer offers unique opportunities to extend the growing season and enjoy fresh produce well into autumn.

The Best Cool-Season Crops to Plant in July for Autumn Harvest

The Best vegetables to plant in Yuly

Credit for image to Van3ss_ on Pixabay

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens are perfect for mid-July planting, as they thrive in the cooler temperatures of early autumn. Lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula are excellent choices for this time of year.

How to Sow Lettuce Seeds

Lettuce can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors and transplanted. Choose loose-leaf varieties that are slow to bolt for extended harvests[3]. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and 4-6 inches apart, thinning as they grow.

If you are new to gardening, then lettuce is an excellent crop to grow, because, in my experience, it always works! Obviously, you do have to take care of it, but it really is easy to grow.

Protect Lettuce in a Cold Frame

Unfortunately, it is a favourite dish of rabbits and slugs, so you need to be prepared to share some, but lettuce grows so prolifically that you’ll probably have plenty to spare. These summer crops will grow well in a cold frame, so you may wish to consider investing in one to keep out rabbits or deer.

Slugs

Because of all the rain we’ve had this year, slugs are experiencing the best year of their lives here in the UK…they are truly in slime heaven. You may wish to visit my article about environmentally friendly pest control methods to find out how to deal with them.

Plant in Mid-July, Harvest in 45-60 Days

Depending on the variety, you should be able to harvest your lettuce in around 45-60 days. Provide consistent moisture and mulch to keep the soil cool during the warm months of summer through into early autumn.

Just one application of mulch will be sufficient- apply a depth of around 4 inches around the roots of your plants.

Spinach Can be Planted Mid-July for Autumn Harvest

Spinach is one of the best options to plant in mid-July planting for autumn harvest. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Spinach prefers cooler temperatures, so it will thrive as the summer heat wanes. (That’s if we ever get any heat here in the north of England this year!)

Harvest baby leaves in about 30 days

These will be lovely and fresh for summer salads or stir-fries. If you prefer the full-sized leaves, then wait around 45-50 days.

 For a continuous harvest, consider planting spinach beet or Swiss chard as alternatives, as they crop for months rather than just a few days. Swiss chard, collard greens and kohlrabi are also well-suited to mid-July planting for an autumn harvest.

Sow Kale from Mid-July through to Late August

Kale is another hardy and easy-to-grow crop. Just keep an eye out for pests such as aphids, which like to chow down on healthy greens. Good air circulation is also important around these plants to keep them in peak condition.

Ready to Harvest in 50-60 Days

Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and 18-24 inches apart. Kale will be ready to harvest in 50-60 days and continue producing leaves throughout the autumn and winter.

Arugula: a fast-growing green perfect for mid-July planting.

Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart, thinning to 6 inches as they grow. Arugula will be ready to harvest in just 30-40 days.

Provide Shade During Hot Weather

Take care of your arugula plants during hot days, as they can be prone to bolting and getting out of hand. The best way to prevent this is to provide partial shade, so think about planting next to tall sunflowers or runner beans.

Alternatively, you can provide shade with large parasols or shade cloths during the hottest hours of the day. Remember to keep the soil moist and don’t allow these plants to dry out.

The Best Root Vegetables to Plant Mid-July for Autumn Harvest

Root Vegetables

Root vegetables planted in mid-July will be ready for harvest in the cooler autumn months, often resulting in sweeter flavours.

Sow Carrots in mid-July for an Autumn Harvest

Carrots come in an attractive array of different colours these days, so feel free to experiment with this wonderfully vitamin A-enriched vegetable.

carrots

Credit for image to tommileew on Pixabay

Plant your seeds 1/4 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart in rows 12-18 inches apart. To grow shapely carrots, plant them in well-prepared, loose soil that has been turned over deeply and remove any stones. They prefer to be in full sun, but they will grow successfully in partial shade.

Thin Seedlings To Prevent Overcrowding

To ensure healthy growth, keep the soil consistently moist and thin seedlings when they are around one inch tall to prevent overcrowding. Don’t pull the plants out of the ground as this would damage the roots; simply snip off the tops with scissors.

Don’t be disheartened if your carrots don’t look exactly like the picture on the packet- even bent carrots taste nice!

Don’t Leave Carrots in the Ground too Long

A hint regarding carrots is to not leave them in the ground for too long- they can become dry and ‘woody.’

When they are around half an inch in diameter they should be ready to harvest, but they can be left to mature in the ground for a further four weeks after they reach that size.

A rough rule of thumb is to expect your carrots to be ready in 60-80 days from planting.

Plant Beets in Mid-July for Autumn Harvest

 Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1-2 inches apart, thinning to 3-4 inches as they grow. Your beets will be ready to harvest in 50-60 days. Harvest them when they’re young and tender for the best flavour.

To get the best result for your efforts, you’ll need to keep the soil evenly moist and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Keep Control of Weeds

Visit your beets regularly and pull out any weeds as they emerge, as they can quickly rise and overwhelm your new plants. You don’t want that!

Radishes are Perfect for Mid-July Planting For Autumn Harvest

Radishes will reward you by growing quickly and easily in your summer veggie patch. In fact, most varieties will be ready to harvest in just 20-30 days. These were always a favourite of my Dad’s- he loved the peppery punch they give a summer salad plate.

Prevent Splitting

 Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart. To prevent splitting, ensure consistent moisture and harvest promptly when they reach maturity.

Like carrots, radishes can go very dry and hard if left in the ground too long, so just be wary of harvesting them when they’re past their best.

Plant Turnips in mid-July for an Autumn Harvest

Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Within 40-60 days your turnips will be ready to harvest. For the most tender vegetables, you will need to keep the soil consistently moist and harvest when they’re 2-3 inches in diameter.

Brassicas

Brassicas planted in mid-July will mature as temperatures cool, resulting in crisp, flavourful vegetables.

Planting Broccoli in Mid-July

Broccoli is part of the Cole Crop family, which includes cabbage, kohlrabi and kale. Start your broccoli plants indoors and transplant them in mid-July when the young plants are around four weeks old.

At that age, the young plants should be able to withstand the weather and pests. Plant seedlings 18-24 inches apart in rows 24-36 inches apart in your vegetable garden.

Caring for your Broccoli Plants

If you live in an area where you experience hot summers, then it’s wise to choose a heat-tolerant variety- so check the seed packet before planting. 

Pest Control

To keep broccoli healthy, provide consistent moisture and watch for pests like cabbage worms, aphids and cabbage loopers: all of these are out to get your broccoli and scoff as much as they can.

Soapy water should get rid of aphids, and you can pick off cabbage worms and loopers. Use floating row covers to protect your plants if pests are becoming too much of an issue.

Look Out for Yellow Spots On Leaves

Yellow spots on the leaves indicate the growth of mildew if the weather is too moist. You may wish to consider covering the plants with a simple plastic polytunnel to protect them from persistent rain- just make sure there is adequate air circulation inside by leaving the ends open.

Autumn Harvest Time

50-70 days after transplanting your broccoli will be ready to harvest. 

Best Vegetables to plant in mid-July for Autumn Harvest- Cauliflower

Like broccoli, cauliflower should be started indoors and transplanted

 Space your young plants 18-24 inches apart into a well-mulched vegetable bed for the best results. Cauliflower will be ready to harvest in 50-80 days after transplanting.

To ensure proper head formation, consider blanching: tying the outer leaves over the developing head when it’s about 2-3 inches in diameter.

Plant Cabbages in Mid-July for an Autumn Harvest

plant cabbages in mid-July for autumn harvest

Credit for image to ulleo on Pixabay

As with the previous brassicas, it’s advisable to plant the seeds indoors to get your cabbages established before exposing them to the dangers of the outdoor veggie patch.

While they are growing happily in the safety of your greenhouse or windowsill, apply well-rotted compost in the planting area to provide the young plants with a nutritious start to their lives outdoors.

 Transplant seedlings 12-18 inches apart in rows 24-36 inches apart.

 Cabbage will be ready in 60-100 days, depending on the variety. To prevent splitting, ensure consistent moisture and avoid overfeeding with nitrogen. (We’ve got consistent moisture here in the north of the UK this summer- it rains every day!)

Pest Control

Cabbages are a favourite of a variety of pests and insects, so it’s advisable to use row covers to protect them as much as you can, especially when the plants are young and tender.

Rotate Crops for Pest Control

To help keep control of harmful insects, rotate your crops annually and avoid planting Cole family crops in the same patch more than every three years. Certain pests will live in the soil and feed off the roots of these kinds of plants.

Mid-July Planting is ideal for Brussels Sprouts for an Autumn Harvest

Brussels sprouts require a long growing season, so mid-July planting is ideal for a late autumn or early winter harvest. Again, get your seedlings going indoors before planting outdoors 24-36 inches apart into a well-prepared patch.

You can water your sprout plants freely, just pick off any yellowing leaves lower down on the stalk. 

Remove the top growth

Brussels sprouts will be ready to harvest in 90-120 days. Remove the top growth above the brussel sprouts about a month before harvest to promote even sprout development.

This stops them from using their energy to grow ridiculously high and channels it into producing some decent-sized sprouts instead.

Pest Control

Like cabbages, Brussels suffer from various pests that are determined to eat them. If you notice the leaves of your sprout plants are becoming discoloured or wrinkled, turn them over and look closely for the presence of aphids.

These can be knocked off by spraying them with your hosepipe, but if they’ve really taken up residence, then use neem oil or insecticidal soap to get rid of the little blithers. 

Green Beans (Known as Bush Beans in the U.S.)

sow green beans in mid-July for autumn harvest

Green beans are perfect for mid-July planting, as they mature quickly and can produce a harvest before the first frost.

Use Polytunnels or Netting

Bean seeds can be planted straight into the ground- however, birds see newly sprouted seeds as a tasty snack, so consider netting or polytunnels to protect your young plants.

 Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 2-4 inches apart in rows 18-24 inches apart. Green beans will be ready to harvest in around 50-60 days.

Continuous Harvest

For a continuous harvest, plant a new row every two weeks. Keep the soil consistently moist and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Go steady with nitrogen-rich fertilizer: too much nitrogen will encourage the growth of lots of foliage, but not that many beans.

 Keep an eye out for beetles, which will happily munch through your bean plants all day long. Pick them off by hand, or wash off with soapy water.

Summer Squash

Summer squash planted in mid-July can provide a bountiful autumn harvest before frost. Establish your young plants by planting the seeds in a peat-free compost indoors or sow seeds directly 1 inch deep in hills 3-4 feet apart.

Water at the Base of the Plants

Summer squash will be ready to harvest in 40-50 days. To prevent disease, water at the base of the plants and provide good air circulation. Harvest frequently to encourage continued production.

Plant Cucumbers in Mid-July for an Autumn Harvest

grow cucumbers in mid-July for autumn harvest

credit for image to aggies on Pixabay

Cucumbers can be planted in mid-July for a late summer harvest. Sow seeds outdoors into 1 inch deep in hills 3-4 feet apart and within 5 days you will see the seeds starting to sprout. You will need to provide a trellis for vining varieties to save space and improve air circulation.

If you prefer to start them off indoors, then give the seedlings about three weeks before transplanting them out into the pre-watered veggie patch at a depth of about half an inch. They respond well to being planted into compost mixed with organic fertiliser. 

Grow Cucumbers in Full Sun

Cucumbers will do best when grown in the full sun and watered consistently. Sporadic watering will lead to misshapen fruits, so be sure to keep them consistently moist.

Harvest Cucumbers Around 50-70 days after planting

Your cucumbers will be ready to harvest 50-70 days after planting. Frequent harvesting encourages the plants to produce more fruit.

cucumber beetles can damage your plants

Credit for image to Brett_Hondow on Pixabay

Pests

As well as the usual pests, cucumbers can fall prey to spotted yellow beetles, known as cucumber beetles, that overwinter in the soil. These little horrors will stunt your young seedlings and damage the leaves of your plants. 

Apply Kaolin Clay

Apply kaolin clay to protect your plants, and use floating row covers.

You may need to resort to using an organic pesticide to control them. Planting borage nearby should also help to deter these beetles- see my article about companion planting for natural pest control

 Herbs for Late Summer Planting

Cilantro

Cilantro thrives in cooler temperatures, making it ideal for mid-July planting. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 2 inches apart. The leaves will be ready to harvest within 3-4 weeks.

Grow in Partial Shade

Avoid planting cilantro in full sun, as these plants are prone to bolting if exposed to too much heat. They do better in partial shade, so situation them near sunflowers or runner bean trellises.

Be sure to keep the soil consistently moist so that they don’t dry out.

Dill

Dill can be planted in mid-July for an autumn harvest. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 12 inches apart into prepared soil. Again, I would advise protecting them from birds and rabbits by getting them established under a cloche, polytunnel or netting.

Harvest your dill in 40-60 days. A good tip to encourage bushy growth is to pinch back the growing tips when plants are about 6 inches tall.

Basil

sow basil in mid-July for autumn harvest

credit for image to ulleo on Pixabay

(One of my favourite herbs- I just love the smell as much as the flavour! Sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, olives and basil- delicious! )

Basil can be planted in mid-July for a late summer harvest. It does best in warm weather, so consider the current temperatures. If you’re living in the UK like me, and the summer is a wash-out, then I wouldn’t advise attempting it.

Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 6-12 inches apart. Basil will be ready to harvest in 60-90 days. As with the cilantro, you can promote bushier growth and prevent flowering by pinching off the top sets of leaves regularly.

Protect your plants from the ravages of birds and other pests.

 General Tips for Mid-July Planting Success

To ensure success with your mid-July plantings, consider the following tips:

1. Prepare your soil by adding compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and structure

2. Mulch around your plants with organic materials like straw or wood chips to retain moisture and suppress weeds

Click here to learn how to create your own mulch

3. Water deeply and consistently, especially during hot, dry periods.

water consistently during hot periods

Image credit to annawaldl on Pixabay

4. Consider using row covers or shade cloth to protect young seedlings from intense summer heat.

5. Practice succession planting by sowing small amounts of quick-growing crops every 2-3 weeks for a continuous harvest.

6. Monitor for pests and diseases regularly, and use environmentally friendly control methods when necessary.

Click here to read about environmentally friendly pest control methods

7. Harvest vegetables when they’re young and tender for the best flavour.

8. Consider using cold frames, cloches, or fleece to extend the growing season as temperatures cool in the autumn.

cold frames

By following my guide to the best vegetables to plant in mid-July for an autumn harvest you will be able to make the most of your garden space and extend your growing season, providing fresh, homegrown produce well into the cooler months.


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Happy gardening!

Further Reading:

Popular Companion Planting Combinations for a Thriving Garden

[1] https://bytherfarm.com/the-vegetable-garden-in-july/

[2] https://www.hyanniscountrygarden.com/mid-july-in-the-vegetable-garden/

[3] https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/how-to-grow/how-to-grow-vegetables-and-herbs/vegetables-all-year-round

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lleGIGl5Z4

[5] https://www.suttons.co.uk/vegetable-seeds/when-to-sow-vegetables/july

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