Gardening with Daddy Pete: Things to Plant in July for Fall Crops - Ep. 138 - July 16, 2026

Planning a fall garden in July? In this episode of Gardening with Daddy Pete, Melvin and Jay York explain what North Carolina gardeners can plant now for a strong fall harvest, even during the hottest weeks of summer. Learn how to count backward from the first frost date, use seed packet maturity dates, and choose crops that have enough time to produce before cold weather arrives. The discussion focuses on gardening in the Piedmont of North Carolina, with practical guidance for raised beds, containers, and row gardens. You'll hear tips for planting:  * Cucumbers and Contender bush beans  * Broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, mustard, and turnip greens  * Beets and carrots, including the Danvers variety  * Cabbage varieties such as Stonehead and Round Dutch  * Radishes and other fall garden crops Melvin and Jay also explain how to protect young fall transplants from intense summer heat, manage increased insect pressure, and use North Carolina Cooperative Extension resources for local planting dates. They share advice on leaving cold-hardy crops such as spinach, beets, and certain greens in the garden through winter, plus a look at Egyptian walking onions and how they can replant themselves. The episode also covers compost and soil amendments for North Carolina's red clay, container mixes, seed discounts, heirloom seeds, and how to identify genuine Daddy Pete's Plant Pleaser® products at local independent garden centers. Visit https://daddypetes.com for gardening resources, podcast episodes, recipes, newsletters, and answers to your gardening questions. Subscribe for weekly episodes and send in your own question to have it answered on the show. #FallGarden #NorthCarolinaGardening #VegetableGardening #RaisedBedGardening #DaddyPetes