July Texas Garden Tips - The hottest month for the garden!

Cucumbers almost ready for harvest. Look at all of those flowers!

If you decide to have an 11 month garden rather than a 12 month garden, July is the month to skip out. The days are so brutal and our overnight lows are too warm for our plants to fully recover. They are stressed to the max. Irrigation needs increase and if your garden gets more than 9 hours of sun, you may need to provide protection with a shade cloth for a few of the hottest hours. Your tomatoes and peppers will stop producing flowers due to the taxing heat.

Thriving cucumber plants climbing up the trellis.

What to plant in July as seed:

Corn, Pumpkin

What to plant in July as transplants:

Okra, Peppers, Winter Squash

How to care for your Austin Texas vegetable garden in July:

Keep the healthy plants for a fall crop, remove the unhealthy ones. Keep things pruned and healthy. That said, your eggplants and okra will enjoy this heat and may not even need daily watering. When your melons are softball size, reduce watering. Their flavor will improve in this heat. July is a difficult time for newly planted crops; however, there's a common tradition to sow a few pumpkin seeds on the 4th of July, which would time them just right for a Halloween harvest. Use this month to plan your Fall garden, which is just around the corner!

Here are some ways you can enjoy your Texas garden in the month of July:

Lots of cherry tomatoes ready for harvest in Austin, Texas!

What you can harvest from your raised bed kitchen garden during the month of July:

Harvesting may be the primary bit of enjoyment this month; and possibly the only thing that takes you outside during these oppressive days! Keep up with it to take the pressure of the plants and enjoy some fresh mint and cucumber in a cold drink in the shade!

Connect with us below in the comments section of this page on any and all July Texas gardening questions you have!