What to Grow in July in Austin, Texas

Central Texas Gardening | 2 comments

As you’ve probably guessed, July is considered a hot season here in the sunny capital of Texas, which can make vegetable gardening a little difficult. Try to grow a plant that’s not tolerant of heat, and it will likely just shrivel up.
 
Don’t despair. July is a great time to plant those quintessential summer crops: juicy watermelon that runs down your chin, corn to pop on the grill, and peppers that will bring the heat! (Not like we need any more…)

WHAT TO GROW IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN JULY

While gardeners in other parts of the country are vining their tomatoes up trellises, don’t give into that temptation. It’s too hot here for tomatoes to produce much fruit right now. Better to wait until closer to fall to plant tomatoes (or plant them in July but use a shade cloth to keep them cool) and stick to the hot season rockstars this month.
 
If you already have indeterminate tomato plants in your garden from the spring, you can give them a good pruning if they look like they’re doing well. That way, they’ll be ready to start producing again in the fall. Otherwise, pull them out.
 
Here’s our short list of some heat-loving plants to add to your Central Texas garden in July.
 

Veggies

Black-Eyed Peas, Cantaloupe, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Hot Peppers, Pumpkin, Snake Beans, Summer Squash, Sweet Potato Slips, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Winter Squash, & Zuchinni 

Herbs and Flowers

Basil, Bay Laurel, Catnip, Cumin, Gomphrena, Gaillardia, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Marigolds, Oregano, Petunias, Roselle, Rosemary, Sage, Sunflowers, Thyme, Vinca Cora, & Zinnias

Pro Tip:

Roselle is a beautiful plant that’s related to okra and hibiscus. It produces stunning flowers and thrives in the heat. 

edible garden

This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small profit if you purchase my recommendations. Thanks for supporting my small business! 

TIPS FOR SUMMER GARDENING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

  • Watering deeply is just as important as watering regularly. You want your plants to develop nice, deep roots to keep them from getting stressed in the heat, especially if we experience another drought.

  • Fertilize. Kitchen crops are heavy feeders. MicroLife is an excellent organic choice. (Check out our complete list of recommended fertilizers on Amazon.)

  • Walk through your garden first thing in the morning to hunt out any pests, prune, and make adjustments to your watering system. Irrigation timers are a summer garden lifesaver.

  • Harvest any and all veggies you can find! Crops are best enjoyed when picked in the early morning, before a plant is stressed from the heat. Get them before the birds do, and remember that most tomatoes can ripen on the counter even if mostly green.

For more tips on summer gardening, check out our complete post on keeping your plants cool in the heat.

hot season harvest

LETTUCE HELP YOU START YOUR AUSTIN VEGETABLE GARDEN 

There you have it! Even as the scorching heat sets in, there’s still room for planting and growth!

If you’re just getting started, it’s not too late to get your kitchen garden set up so you can enjoy lots of summer harvests!

At Lettuce Grow Something, we practice intensive planting, which promotes healthier soil and heavier yields. If you would enjoy more in-depth coaching about intensive planting and Texas seasons, CLICK HERE TO GROW WITH US. We’ll have you feeling like a pro gardener in no time. We offer consultations, one-on-one coaching, and turnkey garden installations, building foundations for truly wonderful garden spaces.
 
Happy summer gardening!

Related posts:

  1. What to Grow in June in Austin, Texas
  2. How to Grow Okra in Central Texas
  3. How to Grow Zucchini & Summer Squash in Central Texas
  4. How to Grow Sweet Potatoes in Central Texas

2 Comments

  1. Cheryl Clise
    Cheryl Clise on June 30, 2023 at 9:33 pm

    How do I trim my tomato plants?
    Also when should my okra and watermelon start producing? I have great plants but nothing is growing.

    Reply
    • Crystal
      Crystal on July 6, 2023 at 7:41 pm

      Hi Cheryl! Chech out my blog post on growing tomatoes HERE. You will want to start applying a phosphorus based fertilizer to promote flowers and fruit. I like to use Microlife Maximum Blooms for this.

      Reply

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