Best fruits and vegetables to grow in a summer garden

Okra

Okra is a hot-weather-loving plant. Sow directly in the garden several weeks after the last frost has passed. If transplanting from seeds that were started indoors, be extremely gentle with seedlings, as they have very delicate roots. Plant in full sun in rich soil and be sure to harvest regularly. Pick okra pods when they have grown 3 to 4 inches. Do not let pods over-mature or the plant will cease producing. When looking for companion plants for okra, consider melons, cucumbers and eggplant.

Melons

Melons provide an abundant crop throughout the summer. Cantaloupes are one of the more popular varieties as they are easy to grow and ripen incredibly fast. Melons will do best when planted in sandy loam soil that is well-drained. They should be planted in full sun and the soil should be kept moist in between waterings. As they are very sensitive to drought, a lot of water is needed until they begin to bear fruit. There are many different companion plants that will protect melons, including sunflowers and marigolds

Berries

Berries are easy to grow and wonderful to add to salads or to munch on for a sweet summer snack or dessert. There are a host of new varieties designed to thrive in containers, making berries easy to care for and perfect for potted gardens. Look for varieties like ‘Raspberry Shortcake,’ and ‘Blackberry Baby Cakes’ for patio plantings. Plant in full sun in well-drained, mildly acidic to neutral pH soil. There are some great companion plants for berries, but not all varieties do well with the same companion plants. Strawberries, for instance, do well with lettuce, spinach and thyme, whereas raspberries will benefit from being planted with garlic, onion and oats.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are prolific producers and perfect for eating straight off the vine, tossing in salads or pickling. Look to traditional, burpless or varieties that are hard to find at the store. Persian cucumbers, lemon cucumbers and cucamelons are all wonderful. Cucamelons, which are actually a gherkin, are not true cucumbers but are grown as such. Both are hardy and adorable and pack extra crunch thanks to their tiny size. Cucumbers can be trained to climb an a-frame trellis, while cucamelons will even climb an arbor. Plant in rich soil in full sun in the spring and water regularly for summer-long harvests. Corn is one of the ultimate companion plants for cucumbers, and beans and peas are also good to encourage your cucumbers to do well.

Peppers

Peppers can be grown side-by-side with tomatoes as well as eggplants because they have similar growing requirements. They all prefer full sun, rich soil and consistent deep watering. To help keep your peppers well-watered, use a bubbler or a Thumb Control Watering Nozzle. Make sure to water near soil level whenever possible to prevent soil borne diseases from splashing on lower leaves. Grow patio varieties, sweet or hot peppers to add to pizzas and salsas or for roasting. In addition to the tomato and eggplant companion plants, peppers can be planted close to carrots, radishes, squash and members of the Allium family (like onions and garlic).

Southern Peas

Southern peas like black eyed and crowder peas absolutely will not tolerate frost, so be sure to plant this warm-weather crop at least 4 weeks after the last frost. Sow directly in the garden, or start them indoors about 6 weeks prior to being transplanted. Plant in full sun or partial shade in well-drained, sandy, loamy soil. Southern peas, like other pea varieties, are great to help improve soil. Keep soil moist and do not let it dry out. Watering at the base of plants, as opposed to over-head, will protect delicate blooms and small pods from falling off. Planting black eyed peas with certain plants like onions or garlic is not a good idea as they can stunt each other’s growth when grown together. However, they will do well with strawberries and cucumbers.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes differ from regular potatoes in that they like warm weather and soil. These tropical plants are cold-sensitive and do best when planted about a month after the last frost date. As long as both the days and the 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. Plant in well-drained soil with compost mixed in. Sweet potatoes grow well near dill, tyme and parsnips. Do not plant them near squash as both vines spread and can cause overcrowding.

 

Sourced from: https://gilmour.com/summer-vegetable-garden