The Best Vegetables To Plant In Summer
It is a beautiful feeling to reach out into your own garden and grab the freshest ingredients without the need to go to the market. Whether these are vegetables, fruits, herbs or edible flowers, having your own patch to harvest can be quite fulfilling and useful. But if you’re scared to plant anything in the intense summer heat, don’t worry. There are some vegetables to plant in summer, and these plants love the summer heat!
It’s normal to think that not a lot of plants can survive being planted in the summer season. But some fruits and vegetables thrive in that kind of environment! We can tackle a few of these vegetables below so you can get ready to plant.
The Perfect Time For Vegetables To Be Planted
Just before summer starts, you can plant some seeds during spring. Give them an allowable time to pop out of their shell and grow into seedlings. Some vegetables like to grow at the beginning of summer. Plant these types when frost is no longer present because summer vegetables, when blooming, need to be comfortable enough to grow in warm weather. The recommended weather to start is 65 to 90 degrees F.
High spring is the ideal time to start getting ready for some vegetables, while others need a hotter and dryer earth to flourish. Your fruits and vegetables to plant in summer will be ready to bud when summer sets in. The summer heat helps these vegetables in season flourish into a wonderful harvest. Nothing says summer than blossoming summer vegetables in season.
The Different Types Of Vegetables You Can Plant
Knowing the different types of vegetables to plant in summer and what kind of vegetables can grow well together are helpful not only for growing individually but also as an ecosystem on its own. Coupled with ample sunlight and a proper irrigation system, you can be sure your summer vegetables will grow wonderfully.
Sweet Potatoes
Unlike its other starchy cousin that thrives in cool, dry weather, sweet potatoes grow very well during summertime. It likes the warmer soil. It can yield a lot in just three months. The sweet potato is a tropical plant, so it is best to plant them when the weather is hot. Because it is sensitive to cold, it is best to plant them a month after the last frost. Just make sure the days and the soil is warm. They grow very quickly, and you will find that their vines begin to spread when they’re happy. Make sure to cultivate the soil once you see these vines spreading.
If you’re looking to pair this summer vegetable with other herbs and plants, they do very well near thyme, dill, and parsnips. Don’t plant these near squash because their vines can compete with space.
Southern Peas
You may know them as cowpeas. This green-shelled pea is lovely for salads and can keep well for months. These beans don’t like the frost, so it’s best to plant these a month after the last frost. Make sure to keep the soil moist and water at the base of the plant, not on top. You can pair southern peas with cucumbers but don’t grow very well with garlic and onion. When grown together, their growth is stunted.
Hot Peppers
There are smaller and hotter varieties of pepper that thrive during summer days. Vegetables to plant in summer alongside these hot peppers are eggplants and tomatoes because they have similar growing requirements – preferring direct sunlight, healthy soil, and consistent watering.
Squash
Squash grows on vines and can thrive in the heat. You can start the seeds indoors and transplant them during June or July. There are different varieties of squash you can plant, and they have a long growing season. They need plenty of sun and consistent watering like tomatoes. This summer vegetable grows well with cucumbers, beans, and corn.
Eggplant
This plump vegetable loves the warm weather. You can yield these during summer. Like hot peppers, they like high temperatures and don’t like the frost at all. It’s best to plant them at least a month after the last frost. They do love the summer heat but always make sure that the soil and their roots are moist and cool. They grow well with beans, spinach, thyme, and peppers.
Tomatoes
The plump red tomato is a symbol of a healthy garden. Tomatoes love the full sun and would want to bask in it for 6 to 8 hours a day. You can plant these as soon as the season gets warm – starting in spring. They are great when paired to grow with basil and marigold. You can also develop a hydroponic system with these vegetables.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are great to grow and eat during summer. They help cool you down during the hot summer days – perfect in salads or even in drinks. They need to grow on a trellis and do very well in fertile soil and full sun. They also do well when paired to grow with corn, beans, and peas.
Corn
You can’t have a good summer garden without corn. Corn is one of the best vegetables to plant in the summer. It is sweet and very versatile but can be tricky to grow as bugs and worms like to infect the crop. It needs a lot of space compared to other summer vegetables. Make sure you give them space at least 1 foot apart so they can pollinate properly. Don’t forget to water them regularly!
Conclusion
There are a lot more summer vegetables you can plant in your garden. Growing them from seeds and harvesting the crop can be quite a fulfilling experience! Just always remember to plant them when it’s warm, give them the daylight they need, and a proper watering or irrigation system, so they don’t dry up.
Put them in salads, side dishes, or soup. You can even grill them! Think about the many things you can do with your vegetables in season. Now, when someone asks you where you got your tomatoes from, you can surely tell them it’s from your very own garden because you have first-hand experience and information on the best vegetables to plant in summer. Know more about vegetable gardening.