Gardens are a wonderful sight in the summer, whether they’re packed with blooms or vegetables. Now, If you want a garden that grows a load of summer veg, you have to prepare it well so you can have a fruitful bounty come the sunny season. In this guide, we will discuss the best summer vegetables to plant and the steps you need to take for an abundant harvest.
How to Prepare your Seasonal Vegetable Garden for Summer
Spring is the ideal season to prepare your summer garden, and now that the last of the frost is gone, here are some things you need to do to prepare for the summer planting season.
While you’re enjoying the spring flowers, make it a point to choose summer vegetables to plant. Planning will help you decide if you have to create more garden beds or purchase several more pots. Once you have a list, shop for your choice of plants and seeds.
Assess your garden beds if they’re still good for veggies to plant in summer. The beds should not have signs of damage. Fix any damage on the beds or build new ones.
On warmer spring days, your task is to eliminate weeds, mulch, and debris littering the beds. You can make your soil ready even if the weather is still a bit nippy for planting. Till the soil to loosen it and add some compost. Before watering it, you have to make sure that the soil is level by raking it.
Do some early planting. Based on the area where you reside, you might need to begin cultivating certain summer vegetables indoors. Veggies like peppers and tomatoes need to be started inside your home.
Once the seeded plants are underway, you have to mulch next. Mulching is essential to reduce weed growth.
What to Plant in Your Summer Vegetable Garden
Summer is a great time for growing a trove of the best-tasting, colorful veggies. Here is a list of the best summer vegetables to grow.
1. Carrots
Carrots are easy to cultivate. Just make sure to plant them in sandy, loose soil. Don’t forget to position them under full sunlight and keep the soil moist for optimal germination.
2. Bell Peppers
To grow the best bell peppers, you have to ensure that they’re hydrated specifically if you live in very warm or dry areas. Water them 2-3 times every week or whenever the soil seems dry.
3. Zucchini
Zucchini is a high-yield vegetable but keep in mind that this particular veg grows robustly and might require more space than usual. But if you’re after a bountiful harvest, this veg is the one to cultivate.
4. Tomatoes
You can get a load of tomatoes every harvest which is why tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetable plants around. They also come in many varieties today and it’s not too hard to cultivate or maintain.
5. Eggplants
Like tomatoes and peppers, eggplants thrive in warmer weather. It does require soil that is drained well and has to be kept cool and moist during the growing season.
How to Start Seeds for Your Summer Vegetable Garden
The general seed-starting rule states that the seeds require starting 4-6 weeks before the date of the last frost. The times for starting seeds are calculated by using the date of the last frost and subtracting the days till the transplanting process.
A good time to begin seed starting is typically late March until late May – the southern zones in the country are more ideal to begin seed starting in the earlier months. Make sure to give your plants sufficient time to germinate and develop to a proper transplanting size.
How to Plant Your Summer Vegetable Garden
You have prepared your summer garden early on. Now, here are the steps you need to do to plant your summer veggies.
Now that you have your summer vegetables to grow, tackling the soil is next. Keep the soil conditioned by mixing compost and natural fertilizers. Test the acidity of your soil to see the best supplements for it.
Before making a gardening schedule, you should review the planting dates first, which can be seen on the seed packet. Not all vegetables have the same growing conditions and ripening phases.
Put seeds or plants in the soil. Ensure that it has proper depth and spacing. Maintain moist soil throughout the growing season. A gentle misting is sufficient for your summer garden plants — use a spray nozzle for your garden hose to do this.
Mulching is an effective way to stop the growth of weeds. Add 2-4 inches of organic mulch to your garden to prevent weeds from overwhelming your vegetable plants.
How and When to Harvest Your Summer Vegetable Garden
Summer is the best harvest season for most vegetable plants. For the best summer garden vegetables, you have to get the most appropriate time since some veggies need to be harvested at the peak of their maturity. Others need to be harvested early and will continue to mature even off the plant.
Always pick your summer harvest in the morning to get better-hydrated produce. Avoid bruising and damaging your produce by cutting your vegetable off the plant using scissors or a sharp knife. Use a basket to hold your veggies to avoid bruising them.
Summer Specific Things to Remember When Planning and Working in your Vegetable Garden
To get the best summer vegetable bounty, here are a few tips to remember.
1. Avoid Overwatering
Overwatering might cause more damage to your summer vegetables to grow. Water in the early morning to minimize evaporation. You can also mulch to reduce the amount that you need to moisten your plants.
2. Look for Pests
Check plants for insects regularly to keep their population in check. Look for them under the leaves of your plants. Check for pests in the morning since lots of bugs sleep in during this time. Throw them in a bucket of sudsy and soapy water to kill them off.
3. Harvest Frequently
Harvesting will keep your plants growing and generate more veg. Pick tomatoes once they are ripe for the best taste. Harvest veggies like cucumbers and zucchini while they are still small to avoid getting produce with lots of seeds.
Wrap-up
Gardening is therapeutic, so don’t get too stressed over it. Once you have settled on the best summer vegetables to plant, always remember that you are doing this for the love of the activity and fresh produce. Start preparing today so you can reap your tasty bounty once the warm season rolls around.