No envy is quite as green as vegetable garden envy, and like a weed, it’s bound to crop up each summer. Dinner parties throughout the season begin with simple salads of charmingly unusual cucumbers and variegated lettuces that look hand-painted by a Dutch master. And this gorgeous produce always seems to be sourced from the host’s back patio.
Come midsummer, you might think it’s far too late to start planting; it’s actually anything but. We’re recommending three crops to plant in July that’ll be harvest-ready by August—so long as you follow some guidelines. You don’t need real estate for a whole potager either; these are all container-friendly seasonal plants, not perennials to tend through next year.
Plants to Grow Now
Mint
Prolific and fast-growing, mint is an herb that pays for itself all season long. Keep it in a container because it can become invasive and is challenging to get rid of. Don’t worry about starting from seed. It’s better to keep an eye out for pre-sprouted varieties at the nursery that you won’t find in the grocery store, like chocolate mint and pineapple mint. Both have sweet and fruity aromas that are great for iced tea, but can play well in savory contexts too (like Minty Chicken Meatballs). Snip away at the plant as it grows and take what you need.
Radishes
Radishes are a pretty forgiving crop and not just for early spring planting. Seeds of quick-growing varieties like breakfast radishes or salad radishes can flourish midsummer with ample water and healthy soil. Plant them in a container deep enough to accommodate about 6 to 12 inches of growth, and one you can easily reposition to keep them out of harsh direct sunlight on hot days (when the high is below 80 degrees, they can go back in full sun.)
Arugula
Peppery arugula doesn’t transplant well, so sowing seeds directly into the soil is the way to go. While it can be planted as early as the first spring thaw, its tender leaves will still thrive in July with the right care. Arugula loves full sun, but if you live in a particularly hot region, you should keep it shaded during the hottest part of the day. It grows so fast you can harvest the greens around three weeks after planting, sow more seeds, and enjoy your homegrown salad well into the fall.
Find seeds and seedlings at your local garden center, or online through retailers like Row 7 Co. and Burpee.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran
The gear you need
Hori Hori
The Original Hori Hori Japanese Weeding Knife
This multipurpose Japanese gardening knife is a trowel, blade, and measuring tool all in one. It’s the perfect “do everything” accessory that covers the basics of planting.
Snips
For harvesting herbs and greens, needle-nose snips help you cut precisely what you need without maiming your plant.
Planter Bags
Linen and Canvas Planter Bag (Large)
Old-school terracotta pots are beautiful, but planter bags are a great lightweight alternative that stow away easily during the off season.
Trug
Handmade Trug (Bentwood with Copper)
Yes, you can just grab a bowl from the kitchen to gather up your harvest, but there’s nothing wrong with embracing that Beatrix Potter fantasy with a traditional myrtle trug.
Watering Can
The Warley Fall Watering Can (Two Gallon)
This Haws can will delicately shower your plants without disturbing too much of the top soil, which is important when starting plants from seed.
