It’s Not Too Late: What You Can Still Plant in Zone 3

If you’re looking at your garden in early July thinking you’ve missed your window, good news — you haven’t. Here on the Iron Range, we garden in Zone 3, which means a shorter frost-free season than most of the country. But it also means long summer daylight hours, and that extra light helps fast-growing crops catch up quick.

Direct-sow seeds now
Root vegetables like carrots, beets, and radishes still have plenty of time to mature before fall frost. Bush beans are another great option — most varieties are ready in under 60 days, so you can get a full harvest in before the season ends. Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and arugula grow fast and can be planted in succession every couple weeks all summer long.

Transplants are your friend
If you want tomatoes, peppers, or brassicas like broccoli and cabbage, starting from seed now is cutting it close — but a starter from the greenhouse gives you a head start and still leaves enough season for a solid harvest, especially with quicker-maturing varieties.

Don’t forget the flowers
Zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, and sunflowers are all fast bloomers that will fill out your garden beds beautifully even with a July start.

Herbs for the win
Basil, cilantro, dill, and parsley all grow quickly and are perfect for anyone who wants fresh flavor in the kitchen without a long wait.

Bottom line: don’t let the calendar discourage you. Stop by the Cherry Greenhouse and we’ll help you pick the right plants and varieties to make the most of what’s left of the season.