Thought the season for sowing vegetable seeds was long over for this year? Many gardeners make this assumption, but there are several crops that you can sow in July for a fall harvest. This is one of the best times to get a second round of vegetables for the season. Warm soil speeds up germination, while the cooler temperatures of early fall are ideal for many crops.
A harvest of autumn vegetables requires careful selection. Now is the time to sow seeds for fast-growing, cool-season vegetables. Sowing now gives plenty of time for both options to develop into bountiful fall harvests.
Here are some of the best summer seeding picks and pro tips to help you get the most out of it.
1. Radishes
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Radishes it is among the fastest and most forgiving of all vegetables to grow. Depending on the variety, they can go from seed to harvest in 25 to 40 days. You can probably get a few extra radish crops this year if you start now. Subsequent rounds will be even sweeter and crispier as they grow and mature in cooler weather.
Sow radish seeds in beds, raised beds or containers, as long as they are at least six inches (15 cm) deep. It is important to keep the soil constantly moist as they grow to avoid cracked roots. If your July is too hot, wait until the end of the month to sow radish seeds. Find a wide one radish seed variety from Burpee and try some unique types you may never have tried before Martha Washington’s ‘Early Scarlet Globe’ Radishes or watermelon radishes!
2. Carrots
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Here is another great root to start now for your fall harvest. carrots started now will ripen just as the first frosts of the season hit. This hit of coolness causes the starches in the roots to convert to sugars, giving you a very sweet fall crop. Carrots ripen in 70 or 80 days. Park Seed offers a wide variety of carrot seeds which will make a great addition to your vegetable garden.
Raised beds are best for carrotsso they can develop full roots in good soil that is free of stones. You don’t want to transplant them, so place the seeds where you want the carrots to grow. Keep the soil moist and thin the seedlings as they grow.
3. Beets
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Another tasty root for fall harvests, beets can be sown now in the heat of midsummer and is harvested between 50 and 70 days later, depending on the variety. They grow and develop better as the weather starts to cool. You can use raised beds, garden beds or large ones containers for growing beets.
Seedling thinning it is especially important for beets. Overcrowding interferes with root development. Make sure the soil stays consistently moist or you risk woody roots. While you wait for the roots to mature, you can pick and eat the greens. Burpee has some great beet seeds available including unique and beautiful Chioggia beetroot!
4. Bush Beans
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Bush beans are an example of a fast growing vegetables you can sow in July. They won’t do well in cold fall weather, but if you start now, you’ll have a good harvest before the first frost. Continue to harvest the beans as they grow to encourage continued production.
Beans germinate well in warm soil and grow quickly, maturing in 50 to 60 days. You can grow beans in beds or in large containers as long as you keep the soil moist. It is especially important to water deep while the plant is flowering. Heirloom Blue Lake Bean Seeds from Mountain Valley Seed Company on Amazon they are high yielding and ideal for home gardens.
5. Good
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Cabbage is one of the most iconic vegetables of autumn. It can grow well into fall and even into early winter, depending on your location and climate. While greens are known to be a bit tough and bitter, kale sweetens nicely as it matures in cold weather and especially after a frost. Grow it in beds or large pots.
If you are sowing seeds for baby kale, you can start harvesting after about 30 days. Botanical Interests has Red Russian Cabbage baby greens seeds which are ready in 25 days! For mature cabbage, you will need 55 to 70 days. Continue harvesting the outer leaves as the cabbage grows. Keep the soil moist and use mulch if needed.
6. Spinach
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Spinach it also thrives in cool fall weather and is fast growing, maturing in 35 to 50 days. You can harvest baby spinach in as little as 20 to 25 days. Because it is such a fast grower, sow seeds every one to two weeks for regular fall harvests.
The July heat can be a bit harsh on spinach, so start with varieties that don’t bolt easily and keep the seedlings shaded in hot weather. Bloomsdale Long Lasting (Bolt Resistant) Spinach seeds can be found at True Leaf Market. Water regularly to keep the soil moist and cooler.
7. Brassicas
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Your everything brassicas can be planted now, including cabbage of course, but also broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbageand cauliflower. They take 80 to 100 days to ripen, depending on the type and variety.
Brassicas thrive in cooler weather, but may need some help staying cool if your July and August weather is too hot. Keep the soil moist, use mulchand use shade cloths as needed. Another option is to sow these seeds indoors now and transplant them outside when the weather cools down a bit.
Pro tips for maximizing your fall harvest
Master gardeners get more out of their fall harvest successive planting. Sow seeds every week or two instead of all at once. This shocks and extends your harvest time.
Sowing seeds in the heat of summer can be dangerous. Keep the soil moist and use a light mulch to keep it cooler. Consider using a shade cloth during particularly bad heat waves. Pull the weeds as seedlings germinate and thin out crowded seedlings.
At the other extreme, if you catch a cold in the fall, use row covers to protect the most sensitive vegetables. For most of these crops, a light frost really enhances the flavor.
July is not the end of your growing season. For many fall crops, it’s just the beginning. Sow fast-growing, cool-weather plants now for fresh produce and an extensive harvest this season.
