What to plant in July in the Northeast and Midwest

Worked out for 67 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in July in the Northeast and Midwest, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (New York, Boston and 47 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, pumpkin, sweet corn and 11 more; frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Chicago, Milwaukee and 16 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin and 14 more.

In the Northeast and Midwest, July is summer.

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and 45 more

In July, on average, these cities have highs of 82 to 92 °F and lows of 62 to 73 °F, 1.9 to 6.6 in of rain on 8 to 15 days; the day lasts 14 h 29 min to 15 h 32 min (on the 15th).

No frost in July in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, sweet corn, corn, Napa cabbage	all
start indoors, plant out in August	Cucumber	New York, Boston, Philadelphia and 29 more
sow direct	Watermelon, basil, okra	New York, Boston, Philadelphia and 18 more
sow direct	Pumpkin, bok choy, borage, chayote, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, peanut, soybean	New York, Boston, Philadelphia and 45 more
start indoors, plant out in August	Achocha	New York and Atlantic City

Compared with June: no longer sown — cabbage, tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, melon, chili pepper and arugula.

Not starting in July: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), lettuce (April, sown direct), peas (April, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Columbus.

Ready to harvest in July in Columbus, if sown in the right month: green beans (May), bok choy (May), borage (May) and Napa cabbage (May).

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Madison and 14 more

In July, on average, these cities have highs of 78 to 82 °F and lows of 60 to 68 °F, 2.8 to 5.4 in of rain on 8 to 14 days; the day lasts 14 h 54 min to 15 h 40 min (on the 15th).

No frost in July in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, peas, cabbage, beet, parsley, arugula, chickpea, mustard greens	Cleveland, Portland, Maine, Montpelier and 4 more
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Cleveland, Portland, Maine, Montpelier and 4 more
start indoors, plant out in September	Broccoli	Cleveland, Portland, Maine, Bangor and 2 more
start indoors, plant out in August	Cauliflower	Cleveland, Portland, Maine, Montpelier and 4 more
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, pumpkin, sweet corn, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, peanut, soybean	all
start indoors, plant out in August	Cucumber	Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland and 10 more
sow direct	Watermelon, basil, okra	Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo and 6 more
sow direct	Cilantro, chamomile, dill	Cleveland, Portland, Maine, Traverse City and 1 more
start indoors, plant out in August	Achocha	Cleveland and Erie

Compared with June: new — broccoli; no longer sown — tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, melon, Brussels sprouts and chili pepper.

Not starting in July: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), lettuce (August, started indoors) and spinach (March, started indoors) — dates for Rochester.

Ready to harvest in July in Rochester, if sown in the right month: broad bean (April), peas (May), lettuce (May), broccoli (April), Swiss chard (May), beet (May), parsley (May) and cilantro (May).

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in July and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in July if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).

Cornell Cooperative Extension sets the season here: hardy crops from about four weeks before the last frost, warm ones after it, heat lovers about 18 days after; the last plantings from 3 weeks (radish) to 16 weeks (melons) before the first frost — counted from each city’s own frost dates.

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.

What to plant in July in the Northeast and Midwest

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and 45 more

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Madison and 14 more

How we work it out

Other months in the Northeast and Midwest