For a lot of people, summer means bathing in the sun, going for a swim, and preparing the tanning oil. Gardening enthusiasts will put on their gloves, clean their shovels, and start preparing for summer vegetables!
There are a lot of things to consider while planning for your summer vegetable garden. Preparing for planting is not hard, but it requires a bit of work to get you the results you want. In this all-inclusive guide, I’ll walk you through all the tips you need.
Table of Contents
Vegetables That Love the Sun
First things first, your priority is getting your vegetables right! Getting high-quality seeds is your key to a successful garden. There are a lot of vegetables that thrive in the summer heat:
Tomatoes
Every home gardener loves tomatoes; the ease to grow them has given them quite the popularity. They grow in the summer and require a lot of watering.
Their seeds grow into different forms and sizes. You can eat a tomato the size of a cherry, and you can eat it the size of an orange. The beloved fruit/veggie also grows into a lot of colors; red, orange, yellow and pink in some cases.
Corn
Corns are famous for growing in hot weather; they need a large area to plant them to avoid overshadowing. Their seeds are pretty easy to find. Planting them doesn’t require many steps, you’ll need 80 days after sowing and then you’ll enjoy your golden veggie!
Peppers
The reason we love peppers is the sweet flavor they add to any food. The reason gardeners love them is their variety of colors and sizes. You’ll love to see these tasty veggies growing in your garden. They become ready for harvesting in 60-100 days after planting.
Cucumber
Cucumbers made it to the list among the salad veggies that grow in the heat. They grow in their regular long-form we all know, in yellow lemon ones, and small pickle sizes. They are usually harvested 50-100 days after planting.
Melon
Also known as Cantaloupes, Melons are among the garden plants that are pretty easy to grow. They harvest 70-100 days after planting. You’ll love their sugary taste when they ripe!
Green Beans
The most known form of beans is the green one with the string and pod. You can plant either the climbing one or the potted variety, they’re both available for gardens. Either way, they’re perfectly suitable for your summer garden.
Squash
Summer squash such as zucchini and pattypan will add a nice touch to your vegetable garden. In some cases, they need to be harvested before they’re fully mature. They normally harvest after two months of planting.
Summer Gardening Tips
Now that you know all about your vegetables, it’s time to gather all the info you’ll need for planting them. We’ll start with general tips for summer gardening that’ll make your garden flourish:
- Track the sun. Knowing the amount of sunlight your garden offers is essential. You need to know whether your plants will have full or partial sun. You can use a sunlight calculator for that.
- Pick your plots. Not all plants need the same type. It all depends on your space, but you need to decide whether you’ll be using raised beds or containers for planting.
- Choose your planting environment well. No gardener ever wants to wake up one day to rains flooding their garden or strong wind knocking them out. That’s why you need to plant your vegetables in a relatively stable environment
- Pick your soil. Planting different vegetables means different growing conditions. The type of soil a plant needs can vary from one to another. The choice you make will be vital for your plant’s health.
- Patience is key. You’ll be tempted to check on your veggies frequently, waiting for them to harvest. Here’s the thing, picking plants that mature at different times will be a good move on your part. You will get to see your garden flourishing plenty of times.
- Don’t neglect your garden. Your vegetables will need constant care. You’ll have to do a bit of work such as watering them and pulling out weeds. It may be tiring but it means a beautiful garden will be waiting for you!
Veggies’ Planting Tips
Different plants call for different caring ways; vegetables, in particular, can be a bit hard to manage considering they take time to mature. There’re a few tips for your summer vegetable garden that’ll guarantee you fruitful results.
Don’t Save Money on Seeds
One thing you should know, you must buy your seeds in the spring if you want your garden to be ready in the summer. Check the year’s seeds and get them early, you’ll pay more but the output will be worth it.
Do Your Spacing Right
Some vegetables will overshadow other ones if the spacing is not done right. Additionally, putting your seeds too close to each other will cause them to compete for nutrition. Paying attention to the spacing arrangement is essential for a healthy garden.
Prepare Your Beds
Preparing your soil and beds well before planting will save you a lot of time in the future. Mulching around the young plants will improve the soil moisture; it will all benefit your vegetables in the long term.
Plan Your Watering
You need to maintain your use of water so you have a plan mapped out for you. Irrigating your garden now and then and watering it every few days is the most convenient approach for vegetables. You’ll also want to shield your plants from the hot winds which can dry the soils.
Remove Dead Leaves Regularly
Dead plant leaves can act as a magnet for harmful insects. Hoppers and whiteflies will swarm your garden if you leave them to be. Removing the weeds of the plants regularly will keep the place clean and your vegetables safe.
Go for Raised Beds
Raised beds will be a lot better for the soil conditions. They offer efficient spacing that yields about four times more than row planting. Furthermore, they allow you a bigger harvest in a shorter amount of time.
Work less, harvest more. That’s the thing with raised beds!
Arrange Your Seeds
Seeds’ arrangements differ from one to another. Some of them will get you more yields than others with the same amount of work. For example, arranging seeds in a triangular way will allow you to fit more plants in the beds. While arranging them squarely or in rows will limit your space.
Go Vertical!
Growing your vegetables vertically is an approach that will offer you a lot of space, no matter how small your garden is. There’s a variety of veggies that climb when supported by fences; they even develop thick stems to support their weight. It’ll save you time for maintenance when you grow them this way.
Pick the Right Combination of Crops
Planting veggies that go well with each other will be an efficient move on your part. It’ll save you space and time if they’re compatible with each other.
Final Thoughts
The key to a healthy summer vegetable garden is patience, planning, and caring. Following a few steps and working a bit more will get you the results you desire. You just need to start planning early and stock your seeds!
Pay attention to every little detail, planting arrangements, for example, may not sound so important, but they can turn your garden all the way around.
Now that you pretty much have all the info you need, all that’s remaining is to get started!