How to Grow a Summer Garden

If the long, hot days of summer have you dreaming of a fresh salad, it might be time to plant your summer garden! While some vegetables aren’t well-suited for the heat, there are tons of plants that thrive in high temperatures. Whether you had a garden in the spring-time or this is your first time growing, you can have fresh veggies all season long right from your own backyard.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]When should I start a summer garden?

1. Aim to get your plants in the ground by July. Midsummer is the optimal time for summer planting—that way, you can harvest everything by fall. Midsummer temperatures shouldn’t be extreme yet, so your plants will have a chance to mature before they hit the real heat.^[1]
   
   • If you had a spring garden, be sure to clear out any dead plants and vegetation before you plant your summer crops.

[Edit]Which vegetables grow well in the summer?

1. Tomatoes, okra, corn, pole beans, and lima beans do well in the summer. They can withstand the high temperatures of the season and continue to produce fruit until the fall. These veggies don’t handle cold temperatures well, so try to plant them by mid-July so they can avoid the threat of frost.^[2]
   
2. Cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins also do well in the summer. They’ll be ready to harvest in the fall so you can carve pumpkins or make delicious soups and salads with them. These vegetables need a while to mature, so plant them in July to give them ample time.^[3]

[Edit]Which fruits grow well in the summer?

1. Most fruits are maturing by the summer. Unfortunately, if you wait until the summer to plant your fruit, it’s probably too late! Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and currants are all ready for harvest in the summer. Fruit trees, like apple, plum, peach, and pear, develop fruit in early summer as well.^[4]
   
   • If you’d like to grow fruit, try planting in late winter or early spring.
   • If you are growing fruit, early summer is the time to prune your shrubs and trees. Clip back dead or weak branches to allow all the energy from the plant to go into fruit production.

[Edit]Which herbs should I grow during the summer?

1. Try basil, dill, parsley, sage, and rosemary. These herbs are very sensitive to cold temperatures and frost, so they do well in high heat. Plant them with the rest of your garden around mid-July, then harvest your herbs in 60 to 90 days.^[5]
   
   • If you plan on using herbs for cooking, pluck the leaves off the stems before they start flowering.
   • If you’d like to grow herbs all year round, consider an indoor herb garden instead.

[Edit]Which vegetables grow in extreme heat?

1. Cassava and Malabar spinach do well in high temperatures. They’re tropical vegetables, so they’re used to growing in extreme heat. If you live in an area where the temperature regularly soars above , try out these veggies in your garden.^[6]
   
   • As with most summer vegetables, you should try to get these in the ground by mid-July at the latest.

[Edit]How often should I water my summer garden?

1. Water your garden at least every 3 to 7 days. In the summer, mature plants need water once or twice a week. If the weather is very warm or your area is going through a dry spell, you might even need to water every day.^[7]
   
   • When you water, point the stream down toward the roots instead of letting it roll over the top of the plants. It will help the soil absorb moisture more, and you’ll reduce the risk of rot.
   • Try to water early in the day so the moisture has time to soak in before evaporating in the heat.

[Edit]How do you keep the soil from drying out during the summer?

1. Add a layer of mulch on top of the soil. As your summer vegetables start to sprout, grab some organic mulch and sprinkle a thin layer over the roots of your plant. The mulch will not only keep the soil cool and moisturized, it will also prevent weeds from sprouting in between your plants.^[8]
   
   • There are a few different types of mulch you can use in a garden, including wood chips, shredded leaves, grass clippings, compost, or hay. Any one of these will do the trick to keep your summer garden thriving.
   • Be sure to weed your garden before adding mulch to the soil.

[Edit]Tips

• As your vegetables start to ripen, pick them just before they’re fully ripe. That way, the plant will continue to bear fruit all season long.^[9]

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/planting/vegetable-gardens-by-season.html
2. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C943&title=Vegetable%20Garden%20Calendar
3. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C943&title=Vegetable%20Garden%20Calendar
4. ↑ https://harvesttotable.com/early_summer_fruit_calendar_an/
5. ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/its_not_too_late_to_add_herbs_to_your_summer_garden
6. ↑ https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/planting/vegetable-gardens-by-season.html
7. ↑ https://harvesttotable.com/watering-vegetables-when-the-weather-is-hot-and-dry/
8. ↑ https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C943&title=Vegetable%20Garden%20Calendar
9. ↑ https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/home-vegetable-gardening-a-quick-reference-guide