Introduction: Hello farmers and gardeners we are back with an excellent information of growing vegetables in summer. Vegetables form a vital part of the human diet because they are the source of several vitamins, minerals, and proteins. In almost all developing countries, the consumption of different vegetables is far from sufficient.
A step by step guide to growing vegetables in summer
Summer garden vegetables are planted throughout the summer months and ready for harvest during the fall. What are we waiting for? Let’s get into the deails of growing vegetables in summer.
Tips for growing vegetables in summer
Here are some things you can do to keep your vegetable garden healthy and give high yield;
- Sandy loam and clay loam soils are best for the production of vegetables in summer. Sandy soils can be problematic because of excessive drainage of water and nutrients as well as the presence of nematodes. This, in turn, can lead to the stress of the crops and effect in smaller yields. Summer is a good season for vegetable gardening. Veggies that like to grow under full sunshine enjoy long days and warm climate; thrive well in harsh Indian summer. The good thing about summer vegetable plants is that the same ones can be continued in monsoon season as well. Plant this in high spring, after the threat of frost is past. These tender vegetables require warm weather (65 to 90°F) to grow and are killed by frost.
- Vegetable plants require plenty of water, particularly when they are establishing roots and during dry spells. Locate vegetable garden in an area that is near a water source, for example, a rain barrel, well tap, or water spicket. You could wish to consider installing an irrigation system if your layout is very large. Water management is necessary for crop survival and maximizing crop yield potential. It is very important to ensure your vegetable crop is getting enough water, but also that they aren’t being over-watered. Developing a drainage system in vegetable crops can help prevent waterlogging and salinization in your soil, both of which can stifle growth.
- Soil testing should be on your to-do list right from the get-go because your soil and it’s required will directly influence the growth of vegetable crops. Examining the phosphorus, potassium, and fertilization levels will give you insight into how to handle vegetable crops. It will also let you know when proper soil conditions are forming, for example, the optimal density and right amount of nutrients, so you are prepared to start planting. The function of nutrients in vegetables is complex and includes processes like root, shoot, leaf and fruit development, production of proteins, hormones and chlorophyll, photosynthesis, etc. Soil is the major source of these nutrients to plants and soil fertility (or nutrient content) can, therefore, have a profound impact on crop production. The absence of any one of nutrients has the potential to decrease crop yield by negatively affecting the growth factor.
- Vegetable plants have a short season to produce they must have continual growth. Plantings that are stressed will set less fruit and lower quality. Summers could be hot and dry which is not a good combination.
- Vegetable gardens do best with one inch of water per week. This keeps the upper level of the soil moist where the majority of the roots are located and there are several ways to water. Moisture on the foliage for long periods can cause more diseases, particularly with tomatoes. It is best to water early so the foliage has time to dry before nightfall and another way to avoid wetting the foliage is to use surface irrigation. This can range from a drip system or simply letting the hose flood around the base of the vegetable plants.
- Lay down a fresh 2 to 3-inch layer of organic mulch, like compost, around the base of plants to keep the soil cool as well as to reduce evaporation and weeds. Don’t let them get the upper hand and they compete with vegetable plants for light, water, and nutrients. And they generally win the competition. Too much nitrogen will cause some vegetable plants, especially tomatoes, to stop producing.
- Visit the garden at least every other day to harvest mature vegetable plants. Most vegetable plants, that are including beans, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and eggplant, will stop producing if not harvested frequently.
- Growing vegetables in summer is fun and profitable, you must ensure the proper water suplly to vegetables plants.
List of summer season vegetables
The summer season tentatively starts from 7 February and lasts till 6 June. The sowing of seeds can be undertaken from mid-January to late February. These crops want hot and dry climatic conditions for better growth and maximum production. Here are some growing vegetables in summer.
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- Beans
- Eggplant and Tomatoes
- Okra
- Carrots, Cucumber, and Corn
- Peppers, Pumpkins, and Squashes
- Sweet potatoes
- Summer Squash and Zucchini
- Chilli
- Capsicum
Beans
Beans create a healthy addition to summer salads and side dishes. Beans are simply grown from seeds and require between 40 and 60 days to maturity. Plant fava beans throughout the summer months in neighborhoods that get large amounts of fog. Runner beans are best planted during the June and July months. To save space in your garden, grow beans vertically, using twine, stakes or trellises, to make room for additional summer vegetable plants.
Pole beans, runner beans, and bush beans are equally delightful because once begin producing fruit, there are always a few beans (or a colander full) to pick nearly every day. Plant from seed directly sowed in the vegetable garden or transplant from starts once the soil temperature has warmed to at last 60 degrees. Most gardeners don’t start seeds indoors as beans are sensitive to transplant shock. Pole beans plant in full sun in fertile soil.
Eggplant and Tomatoes
The time to plant eggplant is generally during the late spring. However, eggplant grows well when planted through June, as long as the neighborhood is not too foggy. The plants are best grown from seedlings rather than seeds. Similarly, tomato plants grow well from seedlings when planted throughout June, except in foggy neighborhoods. Both these crops need between 60 and 80 days before they begin to produce.
Tomatoes and eggplants both are members of the nightshade plant family. Do not place these two plants in the same planting space. Tomatoes and eggplants share similar pests that often mean devastation for crops when planted nearby. Instead, plant tomatoes with herbs that are sweet basil, which tomato worms avoid.
Tomato plants are one of the most popular garden vegetables, but they are technically grouped as fruit. For best production, plants want to be caged or staked to prevent damage to the fruit. Tomatoes produce best with warm soil, so not using mulch or covering the soil early in the season with clear or black plastic can warm the soil more rapidly. Adequate and consistent water is necessary to keep tomatoes from developing a physiological problem that is called blossom end rot, where the top is red and rounded but the bottom is flat, black or brown and leathery. This could happen because of a lack of water or infrequent watering, or the tomato plant is growing in too small of a container, so roots cannot spread out enough to get moisture.
Tomatoes generally want a long growing season with plenty of heat and full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Some patio and bush tomato plants have shorter growing seasons. It is best to plant tomatoes as soon as the weather warms in spring to ensure a bumper crop by August. Tomato plants thrive when planted with marigolds, basil, and chives, among other companion plants.
Eggplant is a warm-weather vegetable crop that is harvested in mid- to late summer. Eggplants thrive in very high temperatures much as peppers or tomatoes do. It wants well-drained soil and shouldn’t be planted until at least 3 weeks after the last frost. Even though they love the heat, eggplant roots want to be moist and cool throughout the growing season, so add mulch on the ground to help the root systems retain as much moisture as possible.
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Okra
Okra plant loves hot weather, rich soil and full sun. It must be direct sown in the garden several weeks after the last spring frost. Seeds must be started indoors and moved out into the garden after the summer equinox in late June. Pick pods when they become 3 to 4 inches long and if they are allowed to over-mature, the plants will stop producing.
Carrots, Cucumber, and Corn
The month of June lends itself to growing cucumbers and also sweet corn. Sweet corn will take between 60 and 95 days to reach maturity. Slicing cucumbers take approximately 60 to 75 days, while the pickling varieties need 50 to 60 days.
Grow carrots from seed throughout the summer; be careful when planting carrots in foggy neighborhoods during July. Carrots take about 120 to 150 days to reach maturity.
Cucumber plants can be trained to climb an a-frame trellis, while cucamelons will even climb an arbor. Corn is one of the ultimate companion plants for cucumbers, beans and peas are also good to encourage your cucumbers to do well.
Cucumbers are best directly seeded into the garden and if the soil is warm, seeds can be up in about a week. Cucumbers make best when trained onto a fence or trellis. Fruit will not be damaged by being in contact with the soil and less accessible to critters like slugs. Keep them watered because cucumbers that do not have enough water could be misshapen and bitter.
Corn requires a lot of space to grow and the pollination should be just right. Few vegetable plants are as tasty fresh from the garden so it’s worth the effort. And to increase the chances of pollination it is best to plant corn in a square of short rows. Space plants 1 foot apart. Feed at planting with organic fertilizer and again when tassels begin to form. Water the plant consistently and regularly. Corn is shallow rooted so water diligently, particularly during dry weather.
Peppers, Pumpkins, and Squashes
Peppers add flavor and spice to the summer vegetable garden. Most peppers are planted during the spring, planting can continue up through the June to ensure fresh peppers all summer long. Start summer squashes in the garden as early as May, but also planted throughout June and July. Obtain a jump-start on the fall by planting pumpkins and winter squashes in June.
Plant them in well-drained soil early from seeds. Be sure to provide them plenty of suns and consistent deep watering using an elevated garden sprinkler or spray nozzle like the Thumb Control Watering Nozzle. Squash grows well with cucumbers, corn and also beans, among several other plants.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes differ from regular potatoes in that they like warm weather. These plants are cold-sensitive and do best when planted about a month after the last frost date. As long as both the days and soil are warm, sweet potatoes are easy to grow and will quickly mature to an abundance of pretty vines that spread as wide as you let them. Sweet potato plants grow well near dill, tyme, and parsnips. Do not plant them near squash as both vines spread and cause overcrowding.
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Summer Squash and Zucchini
Squash does not transplant well so it is best to direct sow it in the garden after the last frost date or choose plants in biodegradable peat pots that can be planted along with the squash. Summer squash requires nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Prepare your beds before planting with a generous quantity of compost or well-rotted manure and an application of an all-purpose fertilizer such as 13-13-13. Gather squash when they could be young and tender. Old, large fruits with tough skins must be removed from the vine and thrown away and squash blossoms are edible. To plant them you want to create a flat-topped mound of 2 feet diameter and plant three seeds, equally spaced in each mound.
Chilli
Chilli as a spice is popular in India. The most pungent varieties of chilies can be grown in the hot summer season. The non-pungent type varieties are delicate and susceptible to diseases. The seedlings are transplanted. Heat is key for growing chilies and requires a hot, sun-drenched space, preferably up against a heat-reflecting wall that helps to collect extra rays of warmth. Those in cooler climates often make the best chilies in hoop houses or any other insulated environment. Though, do not let its infatuation with heat throw the basic demands of the plant. Even the toughest dudes require food and water to survive and the chili is no exception. Chilli is known to be an aphrodisiac but arrives there you have to be persistent.
Capsicum
Capsicum is a member from the Solanaceae family that includes chili, eggplant, and tomato, capsicum is a crop that is best planted once the soil temperature has balanced out at a balmy 20 °C and above. Much like its cousins, it is a heat-loving variety that will choose a sunny place in the patch with a little airflow to help avoid any fungal disease.
That’s all folks about growing vegetables in summer, keep growing vegetables. Incase if you are interested in Apartment Container Gardening.