It’s Not Too Late to Plant Vegetables This Summer—Here’s How to Do It

When I first installed raised beds in my garden, I often felt like a dolt and mistakes were thick on the ground. I’d neglect adding compost and then not understand why my raspberries weren’t thriving, for example. Or I’d forget to turn off my timer on a rainy day and kick myself for wasting water. I also assumed certain things that just weren’t true—like I couldn’t plant any summer vegetables after spring.  

I’ve found that a lot of beginning gardeners believe this to be true. Maybe it’s because there’s such a big marketing push for early spring gardening that once June rolls around we believe we’ve missed the boat. Or perhaps nobody told us about succession sowing, which is when you plant some seeds, let a couple of weeks go by, and then plant the same kind of seed again so you’ll get more than one crop. (Not to be confused with a Succession obsession, which I already succumbed to. I still can’t get over that final scene with Shiv and Tom in the car.)   

Regardless, you still have so much time to grow the vegetable garden of your dreams. Here’s our guide to what you can still plant, where, and when.  

The Pacific Northwest 

Thomas J. Story

June 

Plant seedlings or seeds of winter and summer squash, cucumbers, melons, peppers, green beans, eggplant, tomatoes, beets, radishes, carrots, and herbs. Direct sow beans and corn, which don’t like to have their root systems disturbed.  

July 

Plant fast-maturing crops including lettuce, collard greens, kale, broccoli, beets, Brussels sprouts, radishes, onion, and carrots. You can also plant beans (direct sow), peas (direct sow), scallions, and cabbage. 

Northern California 

Raúl B Fernández

June 

Plant peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, melons, green beans, radishes, carrots, herbs, beans (direct sow), squash, and corn (direct sow).   

July 

Get cool-season crops in the ground, including beets, broccoli, cabbage, collards, carrots, kohlrabi, cauliflower, lettuce, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, potatoes, and turnips.   

Southern California 

Thomas J. Story

June 

Don’t plant cool-season lettuce—look for warm-season varietals instead. Also plant tomatoes, kale, peppers, summer squash, eggplant, radishes, beans, onions, and herbs like dill, basil, and oregano.  

July 

Plant beans (direct sow), herbs, leeks, kale, okra, chard, corn, green onion, summer squash, pumpkins, and winter squash.  

Southwest 

Mongpro/Getty Images

June 

Yes, it’s getting hot, but you can still plant heat-lovers like tomatoes, corn (direct sow), peppers, eggplant, okra, beans (direct sow), herbs, and sweet potatoes.   

July 

Before the summer storms arrive, sow seeds of black-eyed peas, chiles, corn, eggplant, and summer and winter squash.  

Mountain Regions 

Getty Images

June 

Plant seedlings of eggplant, cucumbers, melons, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, and squash. Direct sow beans and sweet corn.  

July 

Now is the time for lettuce, chard, collards, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, root vegetables including kohlrabi, potatoes, leeks, beets, and rutabaga. You can also plant hardy herbs like chives, tarragon, parsley, and dill.  

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