Garden Vegetable Seeds for Summer

Summer is not very pleasant for us but there are a lot of vegetables that open up surprisingly in the scorching heat. Such as Contai bolder, Basella, Red Amaranth, Ribbed gourd, Water Spinach, Cowpeas, Pumpkin, bottle gourd, etc. Since summer brings with it various health problems such as dehydration, vitamin deficiency, and skin allergies, the use of seasonal vegetables becomes even more important.

Summer is the perfect season to grow different varieties of vegetables. While some vegetables such as Broccoli, Spinach, and Cauliflower prefer cold spring and fall temperatures, others such as Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Peppers need warm weather to thrive. For summer seeds to grow, the soil needs to be heated to a minimum temperature.

Each plant has its priority limit, but it usually varies between 19 to 24°C. Each plant has also been given priority as to how deep its seeds should be planted. The general rule of thumb is to mix soil depth with seed width, small seeds barely need to be covered while large seeds need to deepen in the ground. If the weather is dry, do not forget to water them from time to time. Let’s check out garden vegetable seeds for summer.

Garden vegetable seeds for summer

Bottle Gourd

Start sowing Bottle gourd seeds in the summer season. Seeds should be kept about 24 inches apart after growing, so plants have space to grow. For potting, choose 12 inches deep pot and strong trails. Add rope to support the young plant. Make sure the Bottle gourd is going to stabilize as the fruit can be heavy on the vines. The plant should get 8 hours of sunlight daily to thrive.

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Bottle Gourd Plant — Image Source: Pixabay

Pumpkin

Sow seeds of Pumpkin directly in the soil. Pumpkins are very sensitive to cold. Check the temperature is ideal for sowing. Plant seeds in rows that are the size of small pitcher mounds. With hills, the earth will warm up more quickly and the seeds will sprout faster. Prepare the hills in advance with old manure dug deep in the soil. Plant the seeds 1 inch deep too. Your plants should be ready in less than a week and sprout within 5 to 10 days. When plants are 2 to 3 inches long, there are 2 to 3 plants per hill by cutting down unwanted plants.

Summer Squash

Unlike Winter Squash, these summer-loving vegetables do not store well and are eaten fresh. Varieties include green and yellow Zucchini, Crookneck, Pattypan, and Zephyr. Select a sunny place with rich, well-draining soil. Plant in rows or hills and directly sow seeds when the soil temperature reaches 22°C. These Plants require 1 to 2 inches of water every week. Practice drip irrigation to decrease the risk of foliar disease.

Leafy salads

Sow Radicchio in June or July, and use thinning as baby salad leaves. Leave the remaining plants in their last distance in late autumn, the red color of the leaves develops after the nights have cooled.

Tomato

It’s hard to beat the taste of fresh homemade tomatoes. These favorite vegetables need a hot summer season for several months to produce a rich crop. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, rich soil and manure are needed to thrive. Choose a site that receives full sun and provides regular water and supplementary fertilizer for the highest production. Wait for the transplant outside until the temperature is at least 13°C at night. Plants will need a trellis, keeping, or stacking to support fruits.

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Okra

This easy-to-grow vegetable thrives in hot areas due to its extreme tolerance against heat and drought. Edible seed pods are grown in just 50 to 60 days. When the soil temperature reaches 19 to 25 °C, sow seeds directly outside in rich, well-drained soil. Although okra is drought-tolerant, it yields better when getting regular water. Harvest a few days after flowering when the pods are still small for the best texture and productivity.

Pepper

This versatile hot weather vegetable comes in hundreds of different varieties from light to screaming hot according to each taste. Due to the long growing time, plants will need to be started indoors or purchased with nursery starts. Wait for the night-time temperature to be planted outside until permanently 20°C or above. Peppers rich flourish in a sunny site with well-drained soil. Plants will need to be staked or kedging to prevent them from bending or breaking down by fruit weight.

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Melons

Sweet, ropey melon piece is one of the greatest pleasures of summer. Melons require a lot of heat, water, rich soil, and manure to produce ripe, juicy fruits. Choose a south-facing site that receives reflected heat and provides enough space for the vines to spread. Wait for the seed to be sown until the soil temperature is 19 to 22°C, or the nursery starts planting. Use heat boosting methods such as cloche or black plastic to heat the earth and accelerate plant growth.

Cucumber

For best results, wait for the sowing seeds until the soil heats up to 18 to 24°C. Train these winning plants on fences or trellis, or give them enough space to spread. Ensure that plants get enough regular water to prevent fruit from becoming bitter or wrong shape. Harvest frequently for encouragement.

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Beans

Beans are one of the best sources of botanical protein. Beyond the ever-popular green beans, there are other varieties to grow, including Black, Pinto, Lima, and Fava Beans. Sow seeds directly when the soil temperature reaches 19°C and the air temperature reaches 20 to 30°C. Polar Beans can be harvested in the mid-summer to fall, while shrub varieties can be sown every two weeks during the summer for continuous harvest. Use space-saving trellis and containers to maximize the productive fruits.

Sweet Potato

This nutritious vegetable is a rich source of beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and trace minerals. Unlike regular potatoes, this tuberous vegetable is tropical, requiring months of heat to thrive. Once the soil temperature reaches at least 17°C, the plant tuber slips into a sunny spot, with rich, well-drained soil. Keep equally moist with 1 inch of water every week. Stop watering 2 to 3 weeks before harvesting when the leaves start to yellow.

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Amaranth

Amaranth is a real summer crop that requires warm soil and sunlight to perform well. Amaranth will simply adjust to most soil types, but it thrives in well-drained fertile soil. As soon as you get interested in birds and peck at plants, keep the soil moist and harvest. Plant Amaranth with eggplant, or plant with corn to help shade the soil and maintain water.

Tips for sowing vegetable seeds in summer

Pick varieties that perform well in your particular area. Soak the seeds in water before sowing and check any floating seeds. Discard them, and keep the remaining seeds for 10 to 12 hours. Then strain the healthy seeds with water with the help of a sieve. Place the sieve in a large container and cover it with a plate so that the seeds remain moist. Leave it overnight for better germination.
If you are growing Tomatoes in pots, grow undefined varieties of Tomatoes. For determinate Tomatoes, the ideal pot is 18 inches in diameter and for undefined Tomatoes, 24 inches in diameter is suitable in sized pots/containers. Okra has a deep tape route system, so find 20-liter containers for normal type and 15-liter containers for dwarf type.
For other vegetables, choose containers that are at least 10 inches wide and 12 to 14 inches deep. You can also use small pots to grow vegetables, but in that case, you may get relatively low yields.
If, your growing season is small, select varieties that mature faster. Select heat-tolerant types for hot climates. Spread 1 to 2 inches of manure or other organic matter around plants. This will help in preserving water, pressing weeds, and preserving the cool soil temperature.
Drip irrigation helps in securing water and reduces disease due to overhead watering. Crops such as Green, Peas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and beetroot benefit from partial shade during the hottest part of the day, especially in hot climates. Plant in a place that protects from the hot afternoon sun or uses shady clothing.
Re-sow crops like bush Beans, Beetroot, and Lettuce every two weeks during summer for continuous harvest. Start falling crops from mid-summer to end. Harvest crops early or late in the day. Production will be crisper, fresh, and tastier than vegetables harvested during the day’s heat.