Easy Vegetables to Grow in Summer

If you’re just starting with gardening, you’ll be looking for the easiest vegetables to grow. Cultivating your crop in the summer will help you access fresh vegetables, which are definitely tastier than store-bought options. A mistake many people make when choosing the right vegetables to grow is not considering the right time.

It’s not always about what to grow but also about when to grow it. Timing is vital to getting your vegetables off to a great start. In this article, we’ll explore the easiest vegetables to grow in the summer and provide you with tips to get you on the right path. On that note, let’s dive right in.

6 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Summer

Sometimes, it’s not about what you’re planting but about when you’re planting it. Below, we’ve reviewed six vegetables that love the summer heat and will have a delicious harvest ready for you in just a few weeks.

Tomatoes

Little beats the taste of homegrown tomatoes, especially when you grow them in the summer. However, they need a few warm summer months to yield a bountiful harvest. Tomatoes love rich soil and will therefore require fertilizers to ensure a fruitful harvest. However, they’re easy to grow, as long as you save them in a location with plenty of sun.

You’ll have to water the plant regularly and provide supplemental fertilizer. Before transplanting your tomato plants, wait until the nighttime temperature is 55° Fahrenheit or higher. It’s essential to stake your tomato plants or add a trellis that can support their fruits when they start yielding.

Eggplant

One of the easiest vegetables for summer gardening is eggplant. Not only are they easy, but they’re also fun as long as you plant them in the summer heat. However, eggplants thrive well in the heat, so they need heat-enhancing methods if you live in a cooler climate.

When you plant eggplants, you should harvest the fruits while they’re still young. This will ensure the best flavor and taste for you. They’re also rich feeders, so you need to use rich soil and provide sufficient water. Plant them where they can get full sun or use black plastic mulch to warm the soil up and speed up its growth.

Sweet Potatoes

Spuds are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the summer. This is because it prefers warm weather and soil. They are tropical plants and are pretty sensitive to the cold. Therefore, they’ll grow well when you plant them at least a month after the last frost season.

Growing sweet potatoes is easy because they don’t require lots of attention. Before long, they’ll mature into pretty vines and spread as much as possible. All they need from you is warm weather and soil.

We would advise that you grow these taters in well-drained soil; you could also mix in some compost. Sweet potatoes grow and survive well when you grow them next to dill and thyme. However, avoid planting sweet potatoes close to squash because squash vines also spread, resulting in overcrowding.

Peppers

There are different pepper varieties, from the hot varieties to the sweet bell peppers. Whatever your preference is, you can plant them during the summer as every pepper variety loves the summer heat. All you need is to give them the proper attention. Peppers also have a long growing time, so you’ll have to get them started indoors before transplanting them outdoors.

Ensure the nighttime temperature is up to 60° Fahrenheit or higher before moving your pepper plants outdoors. Peppers also love well-draining soil; you’ll need to provide a stake for the fruits to stay upright. They also require deep watering but don’t let water enter the leaves. Overall, peppers are one of the best summer vegetables you can grow.

Summer Squash

The name tells it all; these plants love the summer. Unlike winter squash, these vegetables do not store well and must be eaten fresh. You only need a sunny spot with well-draining soil to plant your summer squash. We’ll also advise planting them in rows or hills. Once the temperature is 70° Fahrenheit, you should sow the seed directly.

They’re easy to grow if you provide 1-2 inches of water weekly for the plant. You can also use drip irrigation to limit the risk of foliar disease on your summer squash. Beyond this, your plant will thrive well to ensure a fruitful harvest in the summer heat.

Green Beans

Green beans are amongst the best vegetables to grow in the summer. Growing them from mid-summer to early fall is an excellent option for gardeners because it will help you grow tender and sweet produce. In addition, green beans don’t like the frost, so they’ll thrive excellently in the hot summer heat.

Green beans are so easy to grow that you can even practice succession planting. This means putting seedlings in the soil every few weeks. You can continue this act till middle or late July, depending on the climate in your location. Doing this would ensure a prolonged harvest period for your green beans.

Growing Tips for Your Summer Vegetables

Now that you know the vegetables that are easy to grow in the summer, some tips can help you ensure a successful harvest. Below, you’ll find five tips that ensure your vegetables thrive well in the summer.

• Grow Regionally: this means you should take note of the varieties that would thrive best in your location and grow them. For locations with a short growing season, pick varieties that mature quickly.
• Water Regularly: Vegetables need lots of water, primarily because of the frequent dry spells in the summer. Therefore, pick a spot close to a water source when growing your vegetables. This is even more important when your plant is developing its roots.
• Add Mulch: You’ll need to lay down an inch of mulch or two. It could be organic matter or compost. Mulch is vital for keeping the soil cool and also preventing evaporation.
• Provide Shade for Some Plants: Not all summer vegetables enjoy the full sun. Therefore, they’ll need partial shade to survive the summer heat. This shade is vital during the hottest hours of the day to help your plants survive.
• Know the Right Time to Harvest: You should also know when to harvest your summer vegetables. Harvesting at the right time will ensure your vegetables are tasty, fresh, and crispy.

Final Thoughts

Although there are many vegetables you can grow in the summer; some are easier than others. Ensure that the plants you choose thrive well in your region. Additionally, proper care is essential to ensure a productive growing season and a bountiful harvest. These six vegetables love the summer heat and don’t take extra care. Whatever your choice, you’re sure to have a happy gardening experience.