Vegetable Seed Starting in July

July is the heart of summer gardening, and the focus turns toward heat management and planning for fall crops. Warm-season vegetables are in full growth, and succession planting is key to extending harvests. Heat-tolerant greens, fast-maturing fall vegetables, and tender herbs can still be sown in shaded or protected areas. Proper watering, mulching, and pest monitoring are essential to keep plants thriving during the hottest month of the year.

Table of Contents

Zone-by-Zone Seed Starting Guide for June

Listed by USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, warmest zones first:

Zone 11

(Where the annual low temperatures stay above 40°F / 4°C.)

Direct-sow heat-loving vegetables and herbs.
Continue successive sowings of beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, and melons.
Plant sweet potatoes, okra, yard-long beans, and roselle.
Transplant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant for late summer harvests.
Mulch heavily to protect soil from heat and reduce moisture loss.
Provide shade cloth for young plants during extreme heat.
Water deeply and consistently.
Remove bolting cool-season crops.
Feed fast-growing crops with liquid fertilizer every 10–14 days.

Zone 10

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach 30°F / -1°C.)

Continue direct-sowing warm-season vegetables.
Plant successive crops of beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, and melons.
Plant sweet potatoes, okra, and heat-tolerant greens.
Transplant tomatoes and peppers for extended harvests.
Mulch garden beds to conserve moisture.
Provide afternoon shade for tender seedlings if needed.
Thin seedlings from earlier sowings.
Irrigate regularly as temperatures rise.
Remove spent cool-season crops.

Zone 9

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach 20°F / -7°C.)

Finish planting warm-season vegetables.
Direct-sow beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons.
Continue successive sowings of bush beans and sweet corn.
Transplant basil, sweet potatoes, and summer herbs.
Mulch beds deeply to keep soil cool.
Stake and tie tomatoes as they grow.
Feed heavy feeders regularly.
Monitor soil moisture closely.
Remove remaining cool-season crops.

Zone 8

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach 10°F / -12°C.)

Plant remaining tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant early in the month.
Direct-sow beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, and melons.
Continue sowing basil, dill, cilantro, and summer herbs.
Begin sowing heat-tolerant greens for succession.
Thin seedlings to final spacing.
Mulch beds to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Train vining crops onto supports.
Water deeply during dry periods.

Zone 7

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach 0°F / -18°C.)

Complete transplanting of warm-season crops.
Direct-sow beans, squash, cucumbers, corn, and melons.
Continue successive sowings of bush beans.
Begin sowing carrots, beets, and chard for later harvest.
Mulch beds once soil is warm.
Install trellises and supports.
Monitor for pests as temperatures rise.
Water deeply and consistently.

Zone 6

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach -10°F / -23°C.)

Finish planting tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant early in the month.
Direct-sow beans, squash, cucumbers, and corn after frost danger has passed.
Continue sowing carrots, beets, and leafy greens.
Mulch beds after soil warms.
Thin seedlings of earlier sowings.
Stake tomatoes and install supports.
Use row cover early in the month if cool nights persist.
Begin regular feeding of fast-growing crops.

Zone 5

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach -20°F / -29°C.)

Transplant warm-season crops after last frost.
Direct-sow beans, corn, squash, cucumbers, and melons.
Continue sowing carrots, beets, lettuce, and chard.
Mulch beds to conserve moisture.
Protect young plants from cool nights early in the month.
Install trellises and cages.
Thin seedlings to proper spacing.
Water consistently as growth accelerates.

Zone 4

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach -30°F / -34°C.)

Finish transplanting tomatoes, peppers, and squash once frost danger passes.
Direct-sow beans, cucumbers, squash, and corn late in the month.
Continue sowing fast-maturing greens.
Use row cover or low tunnels early in the month.
Mulch beds after soil warms.
Thin seedlings carefully.
Water deeply but avoid overwatering cold soils.
Monitor weather closely.

Zone 3

(Where the annual low temperatures can reach -40°F / -40°C.)

Transplant warm-season crops late in the month under protection.
Direct-sow beans, squash, and cucumbers once soil is warm.
Continue sowing quick-maturing greens.
Use low tunnels, cloches, or row cover to extend the season.
Mulch beds to conserve warmth and moisture.
Thin seedlings as they emerge.
Protect plants from wind and cold nights.
Plan succession sowings to maximize short growing season.

Fall Transition: Looking Ahead

As July progresses, the garden begins its transition from summer production to preparing for fall and early winter harvests. Successive sowings of beans, squash, and heat-tolerant greens keep beds productive, while planning and starting fall crops ensures an early harvest when temperatures begin to cool. Maintaining soil moisture, providing shade, and managing crop load now allows the garden to carry its abundance into late summer and fall with minimal stress on plants.