What to Plant in July
Portland, ME · Zone 5b
Last frost: May 5
Frost-free days: 153
Peak growing season — the garden is productive and demanding. Start thinking about fall crops and succession planting quick-harvest vegetables.
July at a Glance
Indoor
Transplant
Direct Sow
1
5
10
15
20
25
Cilantro
Dill
Parsley
Artichoke
Beet
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Kale
Lettuce
Peas
Potato
Radish
Squash
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Zucchini
Start Indoors 3
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
Plant now
Kale
Feb 22 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Swiss Chard
Mar 9 – Jul 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Later this month
Lettuce
Jul 17 – Aug 8
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Transplant 12
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Parsley
Apr 9 – Jul 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Broccoli
Apr 9 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Apr 9 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Apr 9 – Jul 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Apr 9 – Aug 8
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Kale
Apr 9 – Aug 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Lettuce
Apr 9 – Jul 16
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Swiss Chard
Apr 9 – Aug 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Artichoke
Apr 24 – Jul 16
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Celery
Apr 24 – Jul 8
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Squash
May 17 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Zucchini
May 17 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Direct Sow 8
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Cilantro
Apr 1 – Jul 16
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Beet
Apr 1 – Sep 8
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Peas
Apr 1 – Aug 31
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Radish
Apr 1 – Jul 16
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
Turnip
Apr 1 – Sep 23
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Carrot
Apr 9 – Aug 8
16 per sq ft
70–80 days
Potato
Apr 16 – Jul 8
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Dill
Jun 1 – Jul 23
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
July Gardening Tips
- Start Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chard indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Squash, Zucchini, Lettuce can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
- Direct sow Carrot, Peas, Potato straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
- Harvest regularly — letting vegetables overmature signals the plant to stop producing.
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