What Seeds to Sow in July in Temperate European Climates
July remains an excellent sowing month across much of temperate Europe. Fast-growing flowers and vegetables can still be sown for late summer harvests and colour, while many gardeners begin starting crops and flowers for autumn, winter and even next year's displays.
Shop Seeds for July Sowing
Recommended Flowers to Sow in July
July is still a useful month for sowing fast annual flowers in temperate European gardens. Focus on varieties that can grow quickly, flower later in summer or continue into autumn.
Cosmos
Cosmos can still be sown in July in many temperate gardens for late summer and autumn flowers. Recommended varieties include Cosmos Bipinnatus Mix, Dwarf Purple Picotee, Sea Shells Red, Double Dutch White, Double Dutch Rose and Fizzy Rose Picotee.
Browse cosmos seeds →Zinnias
Reliable summer annuals for sunny borders and containers. Good July choices include Dwarf Thumbelina Mix, Benary Salmon Rose, Queen Lime Blotch, Whirlygig Mix and Cresto Mixed.
Browse zinnia seeds →Sunflowers
Fast, cheerful and beginner-friendly. Recommended varieties include Sunspot, Taiyo, Cutting Gold, Buttercream F1 and Claret F1.
Browse sunflower seeds →Calendula
Useful for pollinators, cutting and easy colour. Sow Ivory Princess, Funky Stuff or Bull's Eye in July for late summer and autumn flowers.
Browse calendula seeds →Cornflowers
Best in cooler or gentler parts of temperate Europe. Try Cornflower Mix, Blue Boy or Black Ball for pollinator-friendly colour.
Browse cornflower seeds →Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar
Cerinthe Pride of Gibraltar is useful for late-season sowing in temperate gardens, especially in pollinator borders and relaxed container planting.
Browse cerinthe seeds →Nigella
Classic, easy and well suited to temperate gardens. Sow Nigella Miss Jekyll Skyblue, Miss Jekyll Rose or Nigella Sativa for airy flowers, seed pods and cottage-garden texture.
Browse nigella seeds →Nasturtiums
Easy, edible and good for pots. Recommended choices include Dwarf Nasturtium Ladybird Rose, Milkmaid, Purple Emperor and Tip Top Rose.
Browse nasturtium seeds →Marigolds
Good for easy summer colour and companion-style planting. Try Marigold Durango Flame or Marigold Burning Embers.
Browse marigold seeds →Scabiosa
A good choice for cutting gardens and pollinators where summers are not too hot. Recommended varieties include Summer Fruits, Oxford Blue and Paper Moon.
Browse scabiosa seeds →Verbena & Rudbeckia
For summer and late-season colour, try Verbena Scentsation Mix, Verbena Bonariensis and compact Rudbeckia Toto Gold.
Browse verbena seeds →Still Possible in Milder Areas
Dahlias, poppies, California poppies and linum can still be tried in July in milder areas, but they are less reliable than faster summer annuals and autumn-focused sowings.
Recommended Vegetables to Sow in July
July is useful for quick vegetables, container crops and succession sowing. Keep seedbeds moist during dry spells and sow little and often for steady harvests.
Beans
July is still a good month for beans in many temperate gardens. Use Organic Dwarf French Bean Compass for containers and small gardens, or Organic Climbing French Bean Cobra for vertical growing.
View bean seeds →Courgette Ola Redonda
Organic Courgette Ola Redonda can still be sown in July in mild and warmer temperate regions for later summer cropping.
View courgette seeds →Cucumber Marketmore
Organic Cucumber Marketmore is suitable for July sowing in warm sheltered spots, greenhouses or sunny beds with steady watering.
View cucumber seeds →Chard Fireworks
Organic Chard Fireworks is colourful, productive and useful for repeated picking through late summer and into autumn.
View chard seeds →Beetroot
Sow Organic Red Beetroot Boro or Organic Yellow Beetroot Boldor in July for roots and baby leaves.
View beetroot seeds →Lettuce, Rocket & Radish
For quick crops, try Lettuce Salad Bowl, Rocket Esmee and Radish Cherry Belle. Sow small batches regularly.
View salad seeds →Carrot Nantes
Organic Carrot Nantes can be sown in July into fine, stone-free soil or deep containers for later harvests.
View carrot seeds →Pak Choi Taisai
Pak Choi Taisai is useful for late summer and autumn cropping. Sow in cooler conditions or partial shade during hot spells.
View pak choi seeds →Autumn & Winter Crops to Start in July
July is one of the key months for starting vegetables that will crop later in the year. In temperate Europe, brassicas, leafy crops and roots can be started now for autumn and winter harvests.
Kale Nero di Toscana
Kale Nero di Toscana is a strong autumn and winter crop. Start in modules or sow directly where conditions are suitable.
View kale seeds →Curly Kale Westland Winter
Curly Kale Westland Winter is useful for colder months and repeated picking.
View curly kale seeds →Broccoli Belstar
Broccoli Belstar can be started in July for autumn cropping in suitable temperate gardens.
View broccoli seeds →Broccoli Bobby
Broccoli Bobby is another good option for gardeners planning autumn harvests.
View broccoli seeds →Romanesco Veronica
Romanesco Veronica is a distinctive brassica for later harvests. Start in modules for best control.
View romanesco seeds →Cabbage Langedijker Bewaar
Cabbage Langedijker Bewaar is useful for autumn and winter planning.
View cabbage seeds →Cauliflower Flora Blanca
Cauliflower Flora Blanca can be started for later cropping where conditions are suitable.
View cauliflower seeds →Welsh Onion Ishikura
Welsh Onion Ishikura is useful for repeated sowing and later harvests.
View Welsh onion seeds →Sow Now for Flowers Next Year
July is a good month to begin biennials and perennials for next year’s displays. These are ideal for gardeners planning cottage gardens, borders and early-season flowers for the following year.
Delphinium Blue Cloud
Delphinium Blue Cloud is a useful choice for next year’s tall border flowers.
Browse delphinium seeds →Hollyhocks
Start Hollyhock Chater's Double Mix, Hollyhock Nigra or Chater's White for next year’s cottage-garden borders.
Browse hollyhock seeds →Lunaria Honesty
Lunaria is a classic biennial for spring flowers and decorative seed pods the following year.
Browse lunaria seeds →Pansies
Pansies can be started in July for autumn, winter or spring colour, depending on your local climate.
Browse pansy seeds →Stocks
Stocks are useful for scented flowers and cool-season colour in temperate gardens.
Browse stock seeds →
Herbs to Sow in July
Herbs are useful, space-efficient and ideal for containers near the kitchen. In July, keep seed trays evenly moist and protect young seedlings from drying out during warm spells.
Basil loves warmth and is excellent for pots and summer cooking.
Parsley is useful for containers and repeated picking.
Dill grows quickly from seed and works well with vegetables and summer cooking.
Coriander is best succession-sown in small batches and kept evenly watered.
Thyme is compact, aromatic and good for pots.
Lemon Balm is forgiving, useful and well suited to container growing.
Sage is slower than basil or dill, but useful for sunny containers and herb gardens.
Fennel can be started for later harvests and autumn use.
Easy to Grow & Small-Space Friendly
These varieties are especially suited to containers, balconies, patios, children and first-time gardeners. They are practical July choices without needing a large garden.
Best Flowers for Pots & Balconies
Dwarf Zinnia Thumbelina Mix, Dwarf Nasturtium Ladybird Rose, Calendula Ivory Princess, Marigold Durango Flame, Verbena Scentsation and Rudbeckia Toto Gold.
Easiest Beginner Flowers
Sunflower Sunspot, Cosmos Bipinnatus Mix, Zinnia Whirlygig Mix, Calendula Funky Stuff, Cornflower Mix, Nasturtium Milkmaid and Marigold Durango Flame.
Best Vegetables for Containers
Dwarf French Bean Compass, Chard Fireworks, Lettuce Salad Bowl, Rocket Esmee, Radish Cherry Belle, Basil Dark Opal and Parsley Italian Giant.
Easiest Beginner Vegetables
Courgette Ola Redonda, Dwarf French Bean Compass, Chard Fireworks, Radish Cherry Belle, Red Beetroot Boro and Cucumber Marketmore.
Good for Autumn Planning
Curly Kale Westland Winter, Kale Nero Di Toscana, Pak Choi Taisai, Broccoli Belstar and Cabbage Langedijker Bewaar.
Easiest Beginner Herbs
Basil Dark Opal, Parsley Italian Giant, Dill, Thyme German Winter and Lemon Balm.
July Gardening Tips
In temperate Europe, July sowing is about using warm soil while keeping plants watered, succession sowing quick crops and starting autumn harvests on time.
Sow small batches of salads, herbs, radishes and quick crops every couple of weeks.
July seedbeds can dry quickly, so keep the top layer of soil consistently moist.
Kale, broccoli, cabbage and pak choi can be started now for later harvests.
Removing faded flowers keeps many annuals producing for longer.
Start biennials and perennials now for stronger plants next spring.
Shop Seeds for July Gardening
Flowers, vegetables and herbs for confident July sowing in temperate European gardens.