Mid-summer — the harvest season is building. Keep succession sowing, water consistently, and don’t let the garden run away from you.
Plan every month with the UK vegetable planting calendar.
Sow Outdoors
French beans (last chance), spring onions, beetroot (last), fast lettuce varieties, rocket, radishes, turnips (for autumn), chicory
Plant Out
Leeks (transplant from seedbed), celery, celeriac, kale (transplant), winter cabbages (transplant), sprouting broccoli
Harvest Now
Peas, broad beans, lettuce, courgettes (first), garlic (lift and dry), shallots, second early potatoes, first strawberries, gooseberries
What to Sow in July
Spring Onions and Salad Leaves
July sowings of spring onions and quick-growing salad leaves will provide harvests in September and October as other crops wind down. Choose bolt-resistant varieties for summer sowing. Sow in drills or scatter across a pot; keep watered in hot weather.
Turnips (for Autumn)
Turnips sown in July give roots in September and October. Sow thinly 1cm deep in rows 23cm apart; thin to 13cm. Tokyo Cross and Purple Top Milan are fast-growing varieties for quick autumn crops. Alternatively, harvest the leafy tops as turnip greens within 5–6 weeks of sowing.
French Beans — Final Sowing
Early July is the last opportunity for French beans in most UK regions. Dwarf varieties sown now will harvest in September. In northern areas, this sowing is risky — an early autumn frost can catch beans before they’re ready. Only worth attempting south of the Midlands.
What to Plant Out in July
Leeks (Final Transplanting Window)
July is the last month to transplant leeks for a winter harvest. Plants transplanted in July will be smaller than those planted in May, but will still produce a useful crop from December onwards. Use the dibber method: 15cm deep holes, one seedling per hole, water in without backfilling. See our when to plant leeks UK guide.
Winter Brassicas (Transplant)
Kale, winter cabbage, and sprouting broccoli sown in June should be large enough to transplant in July. Give them their final spacing: kale 45cm, winter cabbage 45–60cm, sprouting broccoli 60cm. Water in well and net against cabbage white butterflies immediately after transplanting.
What to Harvest in July
- Garlic — lift when lower leaves go yellow-brown; dry in a sunny spot for 2–3 weeks before storing
- Shallots — harvest when foliage falls over; dry well before storing in nets
- Second early potatoes — July is peak second early season; harvest when plants die back
- Courgettes — first harvests from plants put out in May; pick at 10–15cm for best flavour
- Peas and broad beans — final harvests; let last broad bean pods dry on the plant for seed saving
Key July Tasks
- Water tomatoes, courgettes, and beans consistently — irregular watering causes blossom end rot and splitting
- Feed tomatoes weekly with a high-potash liquid feed once first trusses set
- Pinch out tomato side shoots on cordon varieties weekly
- Earth up maincrop potatoes for the last time
- Tie in climbing beans and tomatoes as they grow
- Order autumn and winter vegetable seeds now for August sowing
Plan Every Month of the Growing Season
Month-by-month crop guides for the whole UK growing year.
Get the UK Garden Planner →What To Plant In July UK
In July, UK gardeners can sow lettuce, radishes, spring onions, beetroot, carrots, chard, spinach, pak choi and turnips. You can start spring cabbage, winter brassicas, lettuce modules and herbs under cover, plant out leeks, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, cabbages and late courgettes, and harvest early potatoes, peas, broad beans, lettuce, courgettes, beetroot and carrots.
| July task | Good UK options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | Lettuce, radishes, spring onions, beetroot, carrots, chard, spinach, pak choi and turnips. | Check soil moisture and local frost risk before sowing. |
| Seeds to start indoors or under cover | Spring cabbage, winter brassicas, lettuce modules and herbs. | Protected sowings help you control temperature, pests and watering. |
| Vegetables to plant out | Leeks, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, cabbages and late courgettes. | Water transplants well and protect young plants where weather or pests are likely. |
| What to harvest | Early potatoes, peas, broad beans, lettuce, courgettes, beetroot and carrots. | Harvest little and often, then record what clears space for the next crop. |
Vegetables to sow outdoors in July
Sow lettuce, radishes, spring onions, beetroot, carrots, chard, spinach, pak choi and turnips. Use small repeat sowings where possible so the harvest is easier to manage and gaps do not sit empty.
Seeds to start indoors or under cover
Start spring cabbage, winter brassicas, lettuce modules and herbs under cover. This is useful when outdoor conditions are too cold, too dry, too exposed or too pest-prone for reliable germination.
Vegetables to plant out
Plant out leeks, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, cabbages and late courgettes. Match the planting window to your local weather and give new plants enough water while roots establish.
What to harvest in July
Harvest early potatoes, peas, broad beans, lettuce, courgettes, beetroot and carrots. Keep notes on what performed well so next year's plan is based on your own garden rather than memory.
Jobs for the vegetable garden in July
Water deeply, mulch where useful, pick courgettes young, support climbing beans, net brassicas and fill empty spaces with quick crops or autumn seedlings.
Common mistakes in July
Avoid sowing too much at once, letting seed beds dry out, leaving courgettes too long before picking and forgetting follow-on crops for late summer and autumn.
Printable monthly checklist
For July, write down four columns: sow outdoors, start under cover, plant out and harvest. Add one line for weather notes, one for bed space, and one for the next crop so the month turns into a practical plan.
Related UK planting guides
Use the vegetable planting calendar UK, compare what to plant in June UK and what to plant in August UK, then check when to plant potatoes UK, how to grow radishes UK and how to grow spring onions UK.
FAQ section
What vegetables can I plant in July in the UK?
In July, UK gardeners can sow lettuce, radishes, spring onions, beetroot, carrots, chard, spinach, pak choi and turnips. You can start spring cabbage, winter brassicas, lettuce modules and herbs under cover, plant out leeks, kale, purple sprouting broccoli, cabbages and late courgettes, and harvest early potatoes, peas, broad beans, lettuce, courgettes, beetroot and carrots.
What seeds can I sow outdoors in July?
In July, outdoor options include lettuce, radishes, spring onions, beetroot, carrots, chard, spinach, pak choi and turnips. Adjust the list for your local soil, weather, frost risk and available protection.
Is July too late to sow vegetables?
No. July is still useful for quick salads, roots, leafy crops and winter brassica starts. Choose fast crops and keep watering consistent.
Turn This Month's Jobs Into A Plan
Month-by-month advice works best when it becomes a written sowing list, bed plan, and follow-up task list.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.