Although I’ve never personally worried about it due to my gardening experience, I frequently see novice gardeners online wondering if planting vegetables in July is a viable option for successful growth.

I found this somewhat surprising since I’ve never felt that my planting was limited by specific months. In fact, you can almost always plant something during any of the year’s 12 months, particularly if you remember the option of indoor gardening (something often overlooked).

With July approaching, today we’ll explore which vegetables are best planted this month for a late summer harvest.

But First…Can You Still Plant Vegetables In July?

The answer is, YES, absolutely, you can still plant veggies in July!

While I acknowledge that July might seem like an unusual time to plant, primarily because it’s usually one of the hottest months, there are still many excellent planting choices available.

And, don’t fret, it’s definitely not too late. Fast-growing and heat-loving vegetables can still flourish in July conditions.

Succession planting in July is also an excellent strategy (after early crops have finished), especially for smaller garden beds and containers.

Vegetables You Can Still Plant In July

Bush Beans

Generally, bush beans are the top planting selection for zones 3-10. They thrive in the July heat, grow extremely quickly, and are perfect for succession planting.

Bush beans do well in containers, grow bags, and raised garden beds. Due to how quickly they mature, you have multiple planting opportunities throughout the year.

To increase your bush bean production, check out these tips for maximizing your bean harvest with fewer plants.

Zucchini

Similar to beans, zucchini also matures quickly (in 45-60 days) and is ready for harvest in a short amount of time. This resilient vegetable flourishes in zones 4-10 and should be directly seeded in July. Zucchini grows optimally in large containers (at least 5 gallons) or small garden beds.

To obtain a larger zucchini yield, these helpful suggestions can truly help boost your harvest!

Cucumbers

For restricted areas, bush cucumber types like ‘Spacemaster’ are fantastic. They typically mature in about 55-65 days in zones 4-10 and are ideal for container gardening with a trellis.

Refer to this guide for advice on getting more cucumbers without much effort; it includes a few valuable pointers to remember.

Lettuce

Heat-resistant lettuce varieties such as ‘Jericho’ or ‘Buttercrunch’ perform well in zones 5-9 if shielded from the sun during the hottest part of the day. Mature within roughly 30-45 days after planting, they grow best in shallow containers, window boxes, or shaded raised beds.

Swiss Chard

Regardless of its delicate appearance, Swiss chard stands out as a fairly robust leafy green that can handle the July heat and continue to grow after harvesting.

Plant this in zones 3-10 in deep pots or small rows in the garden. Due to its fast rate of growth, the leafy green is ready for harvest in just about 50-65 days!

But, if yours ends up tasting bitter, here’s the cause and how to fix it.

Beets

Beets can mature in zones 3-9 in a relatively short time, becoming harvestable in about 50-70 days. This red vegetable is well-suited for containers that are more than 8 inches deep, as well as deeper raised beds.

Radishes

Radishes might be one of the fastest-growing vegetables on this whole list. They mature in about 25-35 days, especially if you grow them in milder July areas like zones 3-9. Many gardeners choose to place radishes within gaps or among slower- growing crops.

Carrots (Early Varieties)

Early carrot types such as ‘Adelaide’ or ‘Little Finger’ can perform exceptionally well in zones 4-9. They are best planted in loose raised beds or deeper containers and will be ready for harvest in roughly 60-75 days.

Kale

Although I enjoy spinach, my personal favorite leafy green is kale. In zones 3-9, kale reaches maturity about 50-70 days after planting. Because it is sturdy and resilient, it is able to withstand both heat and frost.

Kale performs well along the edges of the garden and in pots, making it a great option for succession planting.

Green Onions (Scallions)

Because of their strong fragrance, green onions work as a natural pest deterrent in the garden. Areas inside zones 3-10 are conducive to their growth, and they mature in about 50-60 days after planting.

Their tiny size means that they can be planted amid rows of other plants while remaining healthy.

Turnips

Turnips flourish in warm weather and are best planted in zones 3-9 during June and July for harvesting in late summer. They quickly mature (45-60 days) and can be directly planted in the ground without difficulty.

Here are a few more heat-tolerant vegetables worth considering for your summer garden too.

Let’s Conclude

If someone on the internet is trying to persuade you that July is too late to plant and all your plants will simply be fried in the heat, do not buy into the thought.

It’s not too late! I’ve frequently planted bush beans and Swiss chard in the garden of my mother, during the month of July and unabashedly enjoyed the fruits of my quick harvesting. Simply learn your zone, choose your best planting options and plant your seeds without overthinking the process!