Vegetables you can plant in July: 7 delicious veggies to add to your plot this month

There's nothing quite as rewarding in the garden as growing your own produce from seed. And while summer is usually seen as a harvest season, there are still tonnes of vegetables to sow this month and enjoy come autumn time.

If you're learning vegetable gardening for beginners, you may be surprised to learn that no matter what month you're in, there's usually plenty of veggies to sow in your garden. The month of July is no exception. Actually, you'll want to speed through your July gardening jobs list as some rather delicious vegetables need sowing now.

So it's time to get out into the garden, crack out your essential gardening tools and start sowing before it's too late.

What vegetables to plant in July: 7 recommended varieties

With so many summer gardening jobs to tick off this time of year, it's easy to forget about adding more plants to your collection. And with so many vegetable seeds to sow this July, it's a shame to miss out on late harvests.

1. Salad Leaves

Salad leaves are a great veggie to grow if you're limited to balcony gardening or need to keep your food growing in pots around your garden.

"Salad leaves are a quick and easy crop to grow, and they can be sown continually throughout the year. They will grow well even in poor soils, but boosting the moisture content of the soil will reduce the risk of them running to seed in hot weather, which can make the leaves taste bitter," says Richard Barker, horticulture expert and Commercial Director at LBS Horticulture.

"Prepare the sowing area by removing weeds and stones, and rake the soil so it has a fine texture. Make shallow drills in the soil, water along each drill, and sprinkle seeds along the bottom before covering them thinly with soil. Alternatively, you can grow small patches of salad leaves in the gaps of borders," he adds.

"Do not let the soil of salad leaves dry out during hot weather, and you can mulch the plants once they reach around 5cm in height to help the soil retain moisture. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, you can thin out any crowded plants or eat them straight away," continues Richard.

Richard Barker

With 4 years in the industry, Richard is a gardening expert at LBS Horticulture. He is keen to share his knowledge with both experienced and beginner gardeners, and prides himself on keeping up to date with the latest horticultural trends.

2. Carrots

Not only are carrots a great thing to plant in June, but they're also great to sow in July, so no panic if you didn't manage to get around to it last month.

"July is the last month you can sow carrots if you want a crop for autumn. Fork the soil thoroughly to remove clumps and stones, but avoid adding organic matter in the same year as planting, as if the nutrient level of the soil is too high, the carrots may 'fork' (split into multiple roots)," says Richard.

"Sow the seeds directly into the soil in a shallow seed drill, checking that the seeds will not grow too closely together before covering with soil and watering. Water occasionally as they grow, as too much water can cause stunted growth," he continues.

"Flowering can mean that the crops have bolted due to hot weather, and this unfortunately means that the carrot is no longer edible. You do not need to thin out carrot seedlings, as it can attract carrot root fly," Richard warns.

3. Turnips

Now turnips are certainly not a vegetable that can be grown in a pot, unless it's a very deep one. But they're very fast growers, so sowing them now will mean a brilliant harvest in autumn.

"Turnip seed can be sown in late summer if you are growing maincrop turnips. Sow seeds into well-prepared, moist soil, and if growing the plants for their roots, you will need to thin seedlings out depending on the size you want," starts Richard.

"Keep turnip crops well watered, particularly during dry weather, as if plants dry out, their roots can become small and woody," he adds.

If you do want to grow edible food in pots, then this advice from BBC Gardeners' World on compact varieties is going to be a lifesaver.

4. Radishes

Radishes are another plant that can also be grown in September; however, if you want to enjoy them in your salads before summer's over, now is the time to sow.

"Radishes are a quick crop to mature and easy to grow. Seeds can be sown every few weeks through summer if you want a regular supply, and they can be sown directly into warm soil," says Richard.

"They need plenty of moisture to grow well, so they will need to be watered regularly, and thin out any seedlings growing too close together. Summer radishes are usually ready to harvest within three to six weeks; if left in the ground any longer, they can turn woody," he adds.

Radishes surprisingly make great patio container plants thanks to their shallow growth, so great for when you're limited on space outside.

5. Cabbages

Growing cabbages can be made much easier if you try out some companion planting. Due to their leafy exterior, they're a huge target for snails and slugs, so planting them alongside chamomile or dill can help protect them.

"July is a great time to plant winter cabbages, as it gives them plenty of time to mature before temperatures drop in autumn. Plant cabbages 30cm to 45cm apart, but check the seed packaging as different cabbage varieties may need different intervals," Richard explains.

"Firm the plants well so the roots are secure, and this can also prevent cabbage flies from laying eggs in the soil around the stem. Keep cabbages well watered during dry spells so the soil does not dry out, but do not allow the soil to become dried out either. Remove any yellowing leaves from the cabbages, as these can cause diseases," he instructs.

6. Kale

Not only is kale a great superfood to grow at home, but it can also be a lovely yet unique addition to your plant arrangements for autumn hanging baskets.

"Classed as a superfood as it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods available, I’d also class Kale as a ‘super food’ for home growers as it’s not only hardy enough to thrive in our UK climate, it’s also exceptionally low maintenance, rarely bothered by pests and is suitable for growing in all types of soil," begins Lucie Bradley, gardening expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.

"July is the ideal time to sow kale directly into the ground, having prepared a sunny spot first by clearing weeds and digging in well-rotted garden compost or fertiliser to boost the nutrient levels," she adds.

"Sow seeds 1cm deep and spaced up to 10cm apart, keeping the soil consistently moist until they germinate, which should be quick in the warm July weather, taking around 7 days and once they reach 10 to 15cm tall, you should be able to thin them out so they are spaced approx. 45cm apart," continues Lucie.

Monty Don recently shared his guidance on thinning seedlings and why it's so important for the plant's growth and overall health.

Lucie Bradley

With over 28 years of experience working in the garden industry, Lucie has been fortunate enough to spend every day speaking to both amateur and professional gardeners.

7. Pak Choi

If you're a fan of succession planting, you'll love the regenerative way Pak Choi can be grown in your garden so you can enjoy it for weeks and weeks.

"Simply the best time to plant the ultra-fast cut-and-come-again Pak Choi is mid to late July, so you have avoided the longest summer days, which can trigger ‘bolting’ in this cool-season crop, which will cause the otherwise mild, earthy flavour of the leaves to become bitter," Lucie explains.

"When sowing in July, to reduce the stress of the hotter summer days, select a spot where your plants will be in light, partial shade and ensure you keep the soil consistently moist. Seeds should be sown 1cm deep and spaced approx. 5cm apart, thinning to 20cm apart when the leaves reach 5 to 6cm in height," she continues.

"Key to successfully growing Pak Choi is to use a fine insect mesh to cover your crop from as soon as they are sown so that you can enjoy their mildly sweet flavour when eaten raw or cooked rather than them falling foul to flea beetles or slugs, which they are highly susceptible to but which are easily prevented by covering your crop as it grows," suggests Lucie.

FAQs

What is the best vegetable to plant in July?

Whilst you're sorting out the garden this month, why not add to your vegetable patch and treat yourself to some late summer veggie harvesting? If you want guaranteed success, Lucie recommends sowing Swiss Chard.

"One of the best vegetables to sow in July is Swiss Chard, as this tasty superfood not only provides continuous harvesting for between 6 to 12 months, it’s also one of those vegetables which is best grown at home rather than bought in the supermarket as it doesn’t travel and store well so for premium quality it is best treated as ‘cut-and-come-again’ crop," starts Lucie.

"Remarkably hardy and a consistent grower in our unpredictable UK climate, by sowing in July, you will have an abundant supply of fresh, tasty leaves to harvest all the way through autumn and winter and will even survive the coldest months, so you can pick fresh leaves in early spring," she adds.

You can still protect your plants from frost as you usually would, but the vegetable is tough enough to survive the bleak weather.

Is July too late to plant vegetables in the UK?

Don't make a summer gardening mistake and assume your vegetable planting days are over in July; there's more than enough to sow to keep your kitchen filled all the way through autumn.

"Whilst July is too late to plant tender, slow-maturing vegetable crops such as peppers or sweetcorn, it’s actually viewed as a ‘second planting window’ for a wide range of fast-growing crops like radishes and turnips as well as over-wintering crops like kale and sprouting broccoli," says Lucie.

"Fast-growing crops benefit from both the warmer soil and air temperatures which July bring to speed up growth, with radishes ready to harvest in just four weeks and salad leaves, including lettuce, rocket and spinach, all being ready to pick in four to six weeks if you sow them in July," she points out.

And if you don't have time to get out in the garden this month, whether it's because of holidays or World Cup viewing, then don't worry, there are plenty of things to plant in August too.