Vegetables to Plant Now for a Fall Harvest

Hannah O'Connor
Jul 17
4 min read

The summer heat in Central Texas can feel relentless, but that doesn’t mean the growing season is over. In fact, late July marks the perfect window to kick off your fall vegetable garden. With the right timing, soil prep, and plant choices, you can enjoy a productive harvest well into autumn.

Fall gardening offers numerous benefits: fewer insect pests, cooler temperatures for both plants and gardeners, and enhanced flavor in many crops, such as carrots, greens, and brassicas. But to make the most of the season, now is the time to act.

Whether you’re replanting beds or starting fresh, this guide will walk you through what vegetables to plant in late July, how to prepare, and what to expect over the next few months.

Why Plant in Late July?

Timing Is Everything

In Williamson County, the average first frost typically arrives in mid-to-late November. That gives you just enough time to grow a successful crop of warm-season vegetables and to get a head start on cool-season varieties that thrive in fall. Starting now ensures that your plants have enough time to mature before temperatures drop.

Many fall vegetables need 60 to 90 days to reach harvest. Planting in late July allows you to work with the calendar instead of against it.

Benefits of a Fall Garden

Fall gardens in Central Texas offer several advantages:

Reduced pest pressure: Fewer aphids, squash bugs, and hornworms.
More manageable temperatures: Cooler weather helps plants thrive and makes gardening more pleasant.
Improved flavor: Root crops and leafy greens, such as carrots, kale, and spinach, often develop a better taste in cooler conditions.
Extended harvests: With proper planning, you can continue harvesting into December with row covers and cold-hardy crops.

What Vegetables to Plant in Late July

Warm-Season Transplants

Late July is your last call to transplant warm-season crops that need time to mature before the first frost. Choose fast-maturing or heat-set varieties for the best chance of success.

Tomatoes – Try small-fruited or heat-tolerant varieties, such as Early Girl (I), Porter Improved (I), Better Bush (D), or Solar Fire (D).
Peppers – Bell and hot peppers that do well now include Gypsy (Bell), Big Bertha (Bell, Green), Jupiter (Bell, Red), and TAM Mild Jalapeño.
Eggplant – Reliable varieties include Classic, Dusky, Black Beauty, and Ichiban.

Direct-Sow Options

Some warm-season crops still grow well from seed if planted in late July. Be sure to water frequently and consider temporary shade while seedlings establish.

Southern Peas – Top picks include Mississippi Silver, Pink Eye Purple Hull, and Texas Cream 8.
Okra – Look for Clemson Spineless, Emerald, or Lee.
Pumpkins – Try Jack O’Lantern, Connecticut Field, Big Max, or Small Sugar for fall harvest.
Winter Squash – Recommended varieties include Waltham Butternut, Table Ace (Acorn), and Vegetable Spaghetti.
Sweet Corn – Choose early-maturing varieties such as Kandy Korn (Yellow), Sweet G-90 (bicolor), or Silver Queen (White).
Tropical Greens – Malabar Spinach, Amaranth, and Sweet Potato Leaves all thrive in the heat, offering nutritious greens for a summer harvest.

Preparing Your Beds for Success

Rejuvenate Summer Beds

Before planting your fall crops, take time to clear out exhausted summer vegetables, weeds, and debris. If you’ve experienced heavy rainfall or flooding, check for signs of root rot or soil compaction. Consider doing the following:

Pull up old or diseased plants to prevent the spread of pests and pathogens.
Loosen the soil with a garden fork or broadfork to improve drainage and root penetration.
Amend with compost or well-aged organic matter to replenish nutrients and improve soil texture.
Test your soil, if possible, to fine-tune your fall fertilizer application.

Shade for Tender Seedlings

Late July sun can be intense, especially on young transplants or seedlings. Protect them from heat stress during their first couple of weeks:

Use 30–50% shade cloth for crops like tomatoes and greens while they establish.
Water consistently and deeply, especially in sandy or fast-draining soils.
Mulch around your plants with straw or chopped leaves to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

What’s Next? Mid-August and Beyond

Plan for Successive Plantings

While late July focuses on warm-season crops, mid-to-late August is the time to start cool-season vegetables for fall and early winter harvest. Some crops are best started indoors or in a protected nursery bed and then transplanted out in September.

Start Indoors or in Seed Trays (Mid to Late August):

Broccoli – Recommended varieties: Packman, Premium Crop, Green Comet
Cabbage – Try Bravo, Red Acre, Early Jersey Wakefield
Cauliflower – Choose Snow Crown or Amazing
Brussels Sprouts – Look for Jade Cross or Long Island Improved

Direct-Seed Outdoors in Late August:

Green Beans – Varieties like Contender, Tendercrop, Blue Lake
Summer Squash – Try Multipik (yellow) or Seneca Zucchini
Sweet Corn – Only early-maturing varieties; plant no later than early August.
Cucumbers – Choose heat-tolerant options like Dasher II or Marketmore 76

By staggering your plantings, you’ll have a continuous harvest through fall and reduce the risk of crop loss from an early cold snap or pest outbreak.

Final Tips for Late Summer Gardening

Use mulch wisely – Organic mulches, such as straw or pine needles, help retain moisture and cool the soil. Apply 1–2 inches of mulch around plants, keeping it a few inches away from the stems to prevent rot.
Water deeply and consistently – Plants need steady moisture to establish strong roots. Early morning watering is best to reduce evaporation and avoid fungal issues.
Watch for late-summer pests – Keep an eye out for stink bugs, squash vine borers, and spider mites. Remove affected plants if needed and use row covers to block insect access.
Fertilize lightly – Overfeeding stressed plants can do more harm than good. Add compost at planting and consider a balanced, slow-release fertilizer as crops become established.
Prepare for fall frosts – Keep floating row cover or frost cloth on hand for October and November cold snaps. Many cool-season crops, such as lettuce, kale, and carrots, can survive light frosts with protection.
Keep planting – Central Texas’s long growing season allows for successive planting of greens, radishes, turnips, and beets well into September.

Sources

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Organic Vegetable Gardening Guide
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Williamson County.Williamson County Vegetable Planting Guide (PDF, 2020) wilcoVegList.pdf
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Monthly Gardening Checklist

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