It’s Not Too Late: What to Plant in July for a Late Summer or Fall Harvest!

When July rolls around, a lot of people think they have missed their window to grow food for the year. But I’m here to tell you - it’s not too late!

In fact, July is one of the most underrated months for planting, especially if you want to enjoy a second wave of summer and fall harvests! 

Whether you’ve just decided to give gardening a try or you’re hoping to fill in some empty spaces in your garden beds, there’s still so much you can grow. 

I’ve put together a list of fast-growing, fall-friendly crops you can plant in July - even if you’re starting from seed! 

First - Some Quick Tips for July Planting

Topping up our squash last year with fresh compost mid season

Before you start sowing your seeds, here are a few tips to make sure your July planted garden thrives:

• Choose fast-maturing varieties whenever possible. Look for seed packets that say “early” or “quick harvest.” What to do if the packet doesn’t state these terms? Keep reading until the end for a simple calendar calculation that takes the guess work out of any seed package! 
• Keep seedlings watered consistently. July heat can dry out soil quickly, so your seedlings will need extra attention until they’re established.
• Use row cover or shade cloth to protect young seedlings during heatwaves. This is especially helpful for leafy greens and brassica’s that risk early flowering when stressed from heat (like broccoli & cauliflower for instance) 
• Start seeds indoors for fall crops like brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) if it’s much too hot outside.

What You Can Still Plant in July

Here’s a breakdown of crops you can confidently sow this month in Zone 5-6 (like here in southwestern Ontario). Many of these will also work in other regions with similar or longer growing seasons.

Fast-Growing Greens

Leaf lettuce seedlings

These are quick to germinate and mature, making them perfect for a late summer salad garden.

• Lettuce (leaf types are fastest)
• Arugula
• Spinach (sow later in the month and even into August for fall and very early spring harvests the following year if left to overwinter)
• Mustard greens
• Komatsuna
• Tatsoi

No shade cloth? A partially shaded area can help these greens thrive during hot weather.

Root Vegetables

Our second born in 2021 after harvesting one of our carrots himself!

Many root crops love the cooler days of late summer and fall. Sow these directly in the garden and keep soil moist for good germination.

• Beets
• Carrots (early July for a decent harvest before winter. The frosts in our fall will make carrots sweeter!)
• Radishes (you can succession plant these every 2–3 weeks)
• Turnips
• Daikon radish (great for fall harvests)

Beans & Dwarf Peas

Bush Beans - One of the easiest crops to grow that can also provide immense harvests! 
Fun Fact - Beans and other legumes are "nitrogen fixing", meaning they help return nitrogen back to your soils!

If you plant the right varieties, you can still squeeze in a harvest before the first frost.

• Bush beans (try ‘Provider’ or ‘Contender’)
• Pole beans ('Blue Lake' pole beans are one of our favourites!)
• Dwarf sugar snap peas (choose short-season varieties like ‘Sugar Ann’)

Brassicas

Lacinato kale grown next to bush beans, arugula & dwarf curly kale 

Now’s the time to start fall crops like:

• Kale
• Collards
• Swiss chard
• Cabbage*
• Broccoli*
• Cauliflower*

*Timing can be a bit tricky for these three crops during our hot summer weather, so it is best to choose early-maturing varieties. To give them a good start, consider using shade cloth during those intense early heatwaves! 

Herbs

Watch for amazing sales in July! These perennial herbs (lemon balm and french tarragon) I just purchased yesterday at 50% off! Even though we grow nearly our entire garden from seed, I won't ever pass up an amazing sale for perennials! 

Some herbs do best in the second half of summer and some can even tolerate light frost!

• Basil (harvest before frost)
• Dill (great for pickling season)
• Cilantro (better germination in cooler temps later this month)

Perennial herbs can also be planted in the garden this month! Start from seed or watch for any seedlings discounted at your local nursery. Many will still have time to get well established before winter arrives, helping to ensure their return for you the following year! 

Great Options for Containers or Small Spaces

We love growing lettuce in pots! This is one of our famous "salad bowls" that we offered during our early seedling sales

If you’re growing on a balcony or patio—or just want to tuck a few extra plants into pots—these crops do great in containers:

• Tiny Tim tomatoes (if you can still find starts or if you’re willing to bring indoors if started from seed when the weather gets too cold!)
• Loose-leaf lettuce
• Radishes
• Dwarf bush beans & peas. 
• Basil and dill

Planning Ahead: Fall is Closer Than You Think

Our youngest about to enjoy a freshly picked 'mammoth snow pea'. Peas are a wonderful crop to consider for fall! 

Sowing in July isn’t just about salvaging summer - it’s about setting yourself up for a delicious fall. Many of these crops actually taste better after a light frost, and fall gardening tends to come with fewer pests and less watering.

As a thank you for reading this far, here’s a simple way to figure out if you still have time to grow a certain seed: 

Take the days to maturity listed on the seed packet and add about 7 extra days to allow time for sprouting. Next, find your area’s average first frost date (for us, it’s usually mid-October). 

A quick internet search like “What is [your town’s] first expected frost date for 2025?” will give you the info you need. 

Then, count backward from that date to today. That will show you if there’s still enough time for that variety to reach harvest. You might be surprised - there’s often more time left in the season than you think!

Your Turn!

What are you planting this month? I’d love to hear in the comments! If you’re local, don’t forget to check out our free seed library or join our Crop Swap – Cambridge, Ontario Facebook group to share seeds, plants, and homegrown goodness with your neighbours all year long!

And if you need help planning your garden - even this late in the season - I’d love to help. You can find out more information regarding our one-on-one consultations right here!

As always, happy growing!

- Sarah & The Sunnyhill Homestead Family