When summers are very hot, the best varieties of plants to choose from are “heat-tolerant” and “drought-tolerant”. Some of the vegetables, which continue to produce even during the periods of extreme heat and humidity + drought is Corn, Beans, Peppers, Egg Plant, Tomatoes, Squash, Pumpkins, etc.
Warm-season veggies require both warm soil and high temperatures (with a little cooling at night) to grow steadily and produce crops.
Below are some of the traditional Summer Crops to grow and Enjoy in your garden:
Tomatoes: Tomatoes can just be the favorite thing to grow in your garden. The difference in the taste between store bought tomatoes and those grown outside is insane. So, do yourself a favor and plant a few plants in a sunny spot in your garden this summer. Varieties range from cherry to plum to meaty + it’s worth trying out a new color like yellow too. The true glory of this vegetable shines through when enjoyed alone with just a sprinkle of sea salt or halved and roasted as a simple side. Don’t forget to pick up a tomato cage to support the plants.
Peppers: Peppers can be interesting too to grow in your garden. Crunchy peppers are known for their bold flavors, bright colors + their intense heat. Peppers are also known as bell peppers for their bell like shape. The ever-popular green variety is the original bell pepper, but today you can find many fun types of peppers with color yellow, orange, red, white purple + even black peppers. They can be used on their own, in sauces or ground into spices.
Beans: If you enjoy eating green beans add these to your plot. With both bush + pole beans available they can fit in anyone’s garden. Both types are super easy to grow + will deliver a bountiful harvest all summer long. Pole beans will need some sort of support to grow on. Just push three beans in the ground every few inches (check the seed package for exact spacing), water and watch them grow.
Squash: Squash is a family of plants that comes in several different types. Grow these from seeds or jump start by buying plants and transferring them into your garden. Squash and zucchini need quite a bit of space. If you’re doing square foot gardening, try planting them on the edge of a bed so the big plant doesn’t take up too much space in the bed. Fun fact, the blossoms of the summer squash plants are edible too.
Eggplant: Take advantage of your summer heat by growing an eggplant that requires it. The large, bulbous, deep purple variety is the most common. But flavorful eggplants come in an incredible range of sizes, shapes and colors, from smaller Italian eggplants to slender mild Asian varieties to meaty, dense white-skinned eggplants and more. No matter the type, you would love cooking with them all through the summer. They take well to baking, broiling, and frying alike.
Now thinking of starting your own warm weather vegetable garden this year? Plant ahead! Stop by GSCO + we’ll be glad to help get your veggie garden growing!