Planting guide

What to plant in Santiago, Chile in July

Mediterranean · Central Valley Southern Hemisphere July

Santiago's Mediterranean climate means a cold, mostly dry winter — July is prime time for direct-sown root vegetables and cold-hardy legumes, while the classic summer vegetables get started in trays now so they're ready to transplant once frost risk passes.

Plant now

Carrot, radish, turnip, spring onion, leek

Direct-sow these root and allium crops now; cold soil suits them well.

GarlicAllium sativum

Very frost-hardy and one of the most dependable July plantings.

Broad beans (habas) and peas (arvejas)

Germinate well in cold soil and fix nitrogen, improving the bed for what follows.

Spinach, chard, fennel, lettuce, beetroot

Cool-season leafy and root crops for a steady winter harvest.

Tomato, pepper, cucumber, squash, eggplant, chilli, watermelon, melon (seed trays)

Start these classic summer crops indoors or under cover now — Santiago's summer is hot and dry, so getting a head start in trays means larger, sturdier seedlings ready the moment frost risk passes in spring.

Timing notes

  • Santiago's winter is dry as well as cold — don't assume rain will handle watering; check soil moisture directly, especially for trays started indoors.
  • This is also the time to sow cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and onion into seed trays for transplanting later, rather than direct-sowing.
  • INIA (Chile's national agricultural research institute) publishes regional sowing calendars if you want to cross-check against a specific commune's microclimate.
← All planting guides