The best seeds to sow in July

July is a glorious month in UK gardens — bursting with vibrant blooms from perennials, shrubs, and trees, filling borders, meadows, and balconies with a feast of colour. But this sunny, flower-filled season isn’t just for admiring your garden — it’s also the perfect time to sow and grow new crops.

Thanks to warmer air temperatures and sun-drenched days, July offers ideal conditions for seed sowing. The soil is warm and welcoming, helping seeds to germinate quickly and get a strong start. Whether you're planting out in beds, containers, or even a small patio space, there’s still plenty you can grow.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly what to sow in July and how to grow popular vegetables straight from seed — so you can enjoy fresh, homegrown harvests later in the season.

Seeds to sow

Plants blooming in July

Shrubs and trees

1. Seeds to sow

Lattuce

Crisp, Fresh & Straight from Your Garden.

Why settle for supermarket salad bags when you can grow your own crisp, flavour-packed lettuce at home — for a fraction of the cost? With just a little effort and regular sowing, you can enjoy fresh leaves all summer long.

Here’s how to get started:

Sow little and often: For a continuous supply, sow lettuce seeds every two weeks from March right through to September. This keeps your salad bowl full and your garden productive.
Prep your soil: Before sowing, dig in plenty of garden compost. This helps retain moisture and prevents lettuces from bolting (going to seed) in hot, dry weather.
Sow shallow, grow strong: Use a bamboo cane to press 1cm-deep shallow drills into moist soil. Sow your seeds thinly, then cover lightly with fine compost or vermiculite. This keeps the soil well-drained — essential, as lettuce roots don’t like sitting in soggy ground.
Space to suit the type: For hearting varieties like 'Little Gem' or 'Romaine', thin seedlings to 30cm apart to give them space to form firm, compact heads. For loose-leaf or cut-and-come-again types, harvest the tender young leaves as you need them — and let the plant keep growing.

Whether you’re filling window boxes, raised beds, or garden borders, lettuce is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow in July. Just sow, water, and enjoy!

Radish

Fast, Flavourful & Fun to Harvest

If you're looking for a quick win in the garden, radishes are a summer superstar. With just four weeks from sowing to harvest, these crunchy little roots are perfect for impatient growers — and they add a peppery punch to salads, sandwiches, and summer dishes.

Why grow radishes?
They're fast, fuss-free, and don’t mind less-than-perfect soil. Radishes are also fantastic companion plants — they attract pollinators and can help deter common garden pests. Just be sure not to leave them in the ground too long, or they’ll become woody, overly spicy, and lose that crisp bite.

Here’s how to sow radishes for best results:

Sow little and often: To keep your harvest coming, sow radish seeds weekly throughout the summer. Choose a sunny spot and rake the soil to a fine tilth for the best seed-to-soil contact.
Sow and water: Scatter seeds thinly in shallow drills, lightly cover them with soil, and water in gently using a watering can fitted with a rose attachment to avoid disturbing the soil.
Thin and tend: Once the seedlings appear (usually within 7–10 days), thin them out to around 2.5cm apart. Water regularly in dry spells to avoid splitting or overly spicy roots.
Harvest fast: You’ll be able to start picking your radishes just four weeks after sowing. Don’t delay — young roots are at their best when they’re still small, firm, and bursting with flavour.

STIGA's Tip:
Why not try sowing French beans alongside your radishes? They’re another quick-grower in July, and you can enjoy their tender pods fresh or leave them to mature into haricot beans for storing.

Carrots

Colourful, Crunchy, and Just in Time

Want to harvest your own homegrown carrots before the first frosts arrive?
July is your last chance to sow late carrot varieties directly into the soil — but it’s still a great time to get them started. Whether you go for the classic orange or explore eye-catching heritage types in purple, yellow, red, or even black, carrots are a brilliant crop for beds, borders, and deep containers.

Sow now, harvest in autumn: Carrots sown in July should be ready to pull in around 14–16 weeks — just in time for hearty autumn stews or fresh, crunchy snacks straight from the garden.

Here’s how to sow carrots successfully in midsummer:

Prepare your patch: Carrots thrive in loose, stone-free soil. Dig in some well-rotted organic matter and fork the ground thoroughly, removing any lumps that could lead to misshapen roots.
Sow sparingly: Make shallow drills using the edge of a trowel or hoe. Sow seeds thinly — this helps avoid the need for thinning later, which can attract pests like carrot root fly.
Cover and care: Lightly cover the seeds with soil and water in gently. Carrots don’t like too much moisture, so water only in prolonged dry spells. Keep the area weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients.
Protect your crop: Use horticultural fleece or a cloche to shield young seedlings from temperature dips, especially at night. And here’s a top tip: avoid thinning if possible — the scent can attract carrot root fly, one of the crop’s main pests.
Grow in colour: Heritage carrot varieties not only look beautiful on the plate but also offer different flavours and textures — from sweet and mild to deep and earthy. A great way to keep kids (and grown-ups!) excited about veg.

2. Plants blooming in July

Annual flowers

July is a celebration of colour in the garden — and annual flowers planted in spring are now hitting their stride. These short-lived but show-stopping plants pack a punch in beds, borders, containers, and even balcony pots. Not only do they provide vibrant summer displays, but some also offer surprising benefits like pest control and pollinator attraction.

Marigolds (Tagetes erecta): Beauty with a Purpose
Bold, bright, and easy to grow, marigolds are a July favourite. Their vivid orange and yellow blooms bring warmth to any space — but did you know they also help defend your garden? Marigold leaves release a strong scent that naturally repels pests like aphids and whitefly, making them great companions for vegetables.

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus): The Icons of Summer
Nothing says summer quite like a sunflower. These towering beauties can reach up to 3 metres tall, with golden blooms that track the sun across the sky. Perfect for adding height and drama to borders, they’re also a magnet for bees — and a hit with kids who love watching them grow!

Here are more annual flowers to enjoy in full bloom this month:

China Aster (Callistephus chinensis): Known for their daisy-like flowers in a rainbow of colours, these bloom well into autumn if deadheaded regularly.
Common Zinnia (Zinnia elegans): Zinnias are heat-lovers that thrive in sunny spots. Their bold, upright blooms are brilliant in borders and last long in vases too.
Strawflower / Everlasting Flower (Helichrysum bracteatum): These papery-petaled blooms are not only stunning in the garden — they’re also excellent for drying and using in decorative arrangements.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus): A cottage garden classic, snapdragons flower in spikes of pink, red, yellow, and white — and are beloved by pollinators, especially bumblebees.

STIGA's Planting Tip:
If you’ve got gaps in the garden or want late summer colour, it’s not too late to sow some fast-growing annuals like calendula, nasturtiums, or cosmos. They’ll bring fresh blooms right through to early autumn.

Perennial flowers

While annuals may steal the show for a single season, perennials are the plants that keep on giving—returning year after year with minimal fuss and a big visual impact. July is a wonderful time to enjoy the mid-summer blooms of many popular perennial flowers, adding lasting colour, structure, and pollinator-friendly appeal to your garden.

Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
One of the easiest and most reliable perennials to grow, purple coneflowers produce bold, daisy-like blooms with pink petals and dark central cones. Their upright form and long flowering period make them a favourite in both traditional and wildlife gardens. Bees and butterflies can’t resist them.

Alcea rosea (Hollyhock or Pink Mallow)
Towering and dramatic, hollyhocks are a cottage garden staple. Blooming in shades of pink, purple, and even near-black, they add vertical interest to borders and thrive in full sun. Their July blooms are especially eye-catching against walls and fences.

Astilbe (False Goat’s Beard)
For shadier spots, astilbes provide feathery plumes in pink, white, red, and purple. Their soft, frothy flower spikes are not only beautiful, but also ideal for softening the edges of ponds or shady beds.

Here are more perennial favourites that reach their peak in July:

Monarda (Beebalm) – Aromatic and vibrant, beebalms produce spiky, shaggy blooms in red, pink, or lavender. They’re fantastic for attracting pollinators and pair well with ornamental grasses.
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) – These fiery-coloured flowers bloom continuously through summer. With their warm red, orange, and yellow hues, they’re perfect for hot, sunny borders.
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) – Known for its flat-topped clusters and fern-like foliage, yarrow adds texture to any border. It's drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and loved by bees.
Anthemis tinctoria (Yellow Chamomile) – Bright and cheerful, this hardy perennial offers daisy-like yellow flowers on slender stems. It thrives in poor soil and sunny conditions.

Bulbous Perennials for July Colour

Bulbous perennials also play a key role in the summer display:

Lilium (Lilies) – Whether in pots or borders, lilies offer exquisite blooms in a wide range of colours. Many are heavily scented, adding another layer of sensory pleasure to the garden.
Dahlia – From small pom-poms to huge dinner-plate blooms, dahlias come in every shape and colour imaginable. Planted from tubers, they burst into bloom from July onwards and continue until the first frost.

3. Shrubs and trees

While much of the garden’s early colour comes from spring bloomers, many trees and shrubs continue to shine well into July — offering structure, fragrance, and long-lasting visual interest.

Roses, trailing lobelias, and hydrangeas planted earlier in the season are still going strong this month, filling borders with colour and charm. But July also brings fresh highlights in the form of mid-summer bloomers.

Buddleja davidii (Summer Lilac)
Often called the "butterfly bush" Buddleja is a magnet for pollinators. Its long spikes of white or purple flowers bloom throughout July and fill the air with a sweet, heady scent — perfect for wild or cottage-style gardens.

Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
A true summer classic, lavender’s silvery evergreen foliage looks good all year, while its violet-blue blooms are at their peak in July. Known for its unmistakable fragrance, it’s also ideal for drying or edging pathways.

Catalpa bignonioides (Indian Bean Tree)
This ornamental tree adds drama with its large heart-shaped leaves and showy white flowers marked with purple and yellow. Flowering in mid to late July, it also produces long, bean-like seed pods that persist through winter for added seasonal interest.

Tilia species (Lime Trees)
Many lime trees flower in July, their small, pale-yellow blossoms releasing a sweet scent that attracts bees in large numbers. They're a lovely choice for larger gardens or avenues, adding shade and wildlife value.

For a well-rounded garden, combine flowering shrubs and trees with perennials and annuals — creating layers of interest that evolve through the season.