July is definitely not too late to plant garden vegetables and herbs. Many edibles, including both vegetables and herbs that yield multiple harvests, can be planted in midsummer for a fruitful bounty come fall.
USA Zones 2 and 3 include Alaska, the north-central United States, northern New England, and the Rockies. When gardeners in Southern California are at their peak harvest in July, those in cooler climates can still get going. Greens like arugula, spinach, parsley, and cilantro go to seed quickly in hot, dry temperatures. But sown by seed in cooler regions midsummer, these plants thrive and will produce well into fall. Root vegetables like beets and carrots also flourish when sown midsummer, as they can stand a little frost and can be left under the snowpack to harvest later for a sweeter taste. Broccoli and cabbage starts or transplants also stand a chance when planted in July. Provided the plants are irrigated thoroughly, the warm conditions will yield a tasty crop before the first hard frost.
USA Zones 4 and 5 include the northern Midwest states and southern New England. Radishes, turnips, beets, and carrots can all benefit from a second
planting in zones 4 and 5, where Indian summer is common. Radishes, with their relatively short maturation, will peak early and can be snacked on in late summer. Brussels sprouts, basil, and leeks planted from starts provide a nice addition to soups as the hot weather turns cool. And even late bloomers like winter squash planted from starts can be harvested well into fall, as long as you have row covers to keep the frost off.
USA Zones 6 and 7 include the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic states. Mild temperatures with late to no frost create optimal seasonal conditions for most vegetables in zones 6 and 7. But even still, waning light into the fall will be your growing caveat here. Plant arugula, kale, and lettuces for a second (or even third) round. Most will mature for salads in late August and early September. Traditionally enjoyed in spring, peas and radishes can also be given another go, starting in July. And the bolting nature of parsley, dill, and cilantro eases once the heat of summer passes. So try out these herbs, too, for dried spices all winter long.
USA Zones 8 to 10 cover the southern United States and California. Vegetables that are late to mature in cooler climates do fine down South when sown in July. Lucky gardeners in this general region can plant nightshades, like peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant, and pick their ripe fruit from the vine into early winter. All types of squash can be planted in midsummer, and you can enjoy the delicacy of their blossoms in about a month, followed by their large, yummy veggies at harvest time. In the middle of summer, this climate tends to be too hot for most herbs. Still, dill and cilantro may fare well, depending on the given season's weather pattern.
Canada: For all the usual hot weather veggies like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds and sunflowers, you should plant those seeds directly into the ground around July 18th . Most tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, for example, require around 100 days to harvest. Therefore you’d want to transplant those into the ground around July 23 rd.
Good luck and good gardening to you!
*Thank you to The National Gardening Association and The Spruce for this
excellent information!
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