Summer Vegetables to Grow
Summer vegetable gardens are lush and easy to grow. That way, you can spend less time sweating in the sun and more time sipping lemonade in the shade of a large tree. Whether purchased as seedlings or directly sown to plant in your garden, these 9 summer vegetables are fast-growing, easy to care for, and will produce amazing amounts of fresh produce even for novice gardeners.
1. Green beans
Home-grown green beans are one of the tastiest treats of summer. You can eat the pods straight from the plant for a fresh, vibrant flavor, or pick them at home and try a recipe for puffed green beans.
Pole beans can be climbed over a trellis or other support and usually provide a high yield from their long vines. Bush beans are compact and simple. Sow beans directly in the garden - they germinate in a few days and grow quickly.
2. Bell Peppers
Sweet peppers aren't difficult to grow, but red, yellow, and orange are expensive at the store. You need a little patience for them to change color and become sweet. A few large sweet pepper plants will give you plenty of peppers once harvest begins. A great way to use them is in these stuffed pepper recipes.
3. Cucumbers
Like beans, cucumbers are available in vine or bush form, and vining varieties are easily trained to go vertical. Fast growers, these plants will churn out crunchy cucumbers if given full sun, an inch of water per week, and rich soil. Cucumbers are delicious fresh or pickled, so you'll have no problem putting your bounty to good use.
4. Eggplant
A relative of the tomato, eggplant is beautiful to grow in the summer garden. They love the heat, and their dark-colored fruits lend themselves to lots of delicious recipes. Apply mulch under the plants, if possible, from below, following the cuttings. When harvesting, use a knife to cut the stems - don't try to remove them or you could damage the plant.
5. Melon
Well, melons are considered fruits, this list of vegetables, but no summer garden is complete without a few cantaloupes or watermelons. Home-grown varieties are usually sweeter than their store-bought counterparts because you can pick and eat them at peak ripeness. These plants are easy to sow directly - just pop a few seeds into the soil, cover, and water. To save space and look good, vines can be trained to climb a trellis or trellis.
6. Okra
Gumbo, anyone? Another heat lover, okra is a great summer vegetable typically grown in the South, but northern growers can grow it successfully. Okra plants are large, so leave about 18 inches between plants and 2-3 feet between rows. Pruning the tops of the plants when they reach chest height will promote bushy growth, resulting in higher harvests.
Harvest pods when they are 3-4 inches long. If they are too large or old, their quality will decrease. Okra flowers are large and beautiful, so this plant does double duty as a blooming beauty and tasty treat. Red varieties are also available.
7. Summer squash
Summer squashes, such as patty pan, yellow crookneck, and especially zucchini, have a reputation for being almost too prolific. Especially in August, people may start locking their cars and not open the door when they see you arriving with even more zucchini. These plants are usually direct-seeded and will produce high yields if kept weed-free in rich soil and with adequate moisture. Water from below with a soaker hose or drip tape and mulch around plants to reduce powdery mildew.
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