What to plant in July in the South

Worked out for 46 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in July in the South, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Washington, D.C., Atlanta and 44 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, melon, watermelon and 16 more.

In the South, July is summer.

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte and 42 more

In July, on average, these cities have highs of 84 to 96 °F and lows of 64 to 77 °F, 1.3 to 8.9 in of rain on 5 to 23 days; the day lasts 13 h 54 min to 14 h 43 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
start indoors, plant out in September	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper	New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston and 7 more
sow direct	Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut, soybean	Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and 42 more
start indoors, plant out in August	Cucumber, melon, achocha	Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and 42 more

Compared with June: no longer sown — celeriac, celery and arugula.

Not starting in July: lettuce (October, sown direct), peas (October, sown direct) and spinach (October, started indoors) — dates for Nashville.

Ready to harvest in July in Nashville, if sown in the right month: cabbage (March), zucchini (May), green beans (May), sweet corn (April), basil (May), bok choy (May), borage (May) and corn (April).

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).

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 South

Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte and 42 more

How we work it out

Other months in the South