Top Vegetables That Flourish in Scorching Summer Temperatures
In warm climates, cultivating a thriving vegetable garden is achievable with the right selection of heat-loving plants. Georgia Master Gardener and seed saving expert, Geoffrey Johnson, recommends a variety of vegetables and flowers that will flourish in the heat and humidity of such environments.
For vegetables, Johnson suggests planting okra, tomatoes, pole beans, summer squash, peppers, tomatillos, cucumbers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, and melons. Okra, a heat-tolerant vegetable native to tropical Africa, thrives in hot weather and is perfect for pickling varieties such as 'Clemson Spineless' and 'Alabama Red.' Okra should not be planted too close together, allowing 12 inches between plants for optimal growth.
Tomatoes, including varieties like 'San Marzano,' 'Black Krim,' and 'Homestead,' are well-suited to warm climates, as are 'Yellow Pear,' 'Straightneck,' and 'crookneck' summer squash, and 'Yard long beans' and 'rattlesnake beans.' For cucumbers, heat-tolerant cultivars such as 'Sweet Success' and 'Straight Eight' are ideal for slicing, while 'Eureka' and 'Boston Pickling' are recommended for pickling.
Eggplants, such as large-fruited varieties like 'Blackbell Classic,' 'Midnight,' and 'Florida High Bush,' are particularly adapted to summer heat and need full sun, fertile soil, and constant moisture to thrive. Melons, including watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews, are well-suited to warm climates and need lots of room for their vines to grow.
When it comes to heat-tolerant fruits, tomatillos, such as 'Pineapple' and 'Grande Rio Verde,' grow in husks and require at least two plants for fruit production. Hot peppers and sweet peppers such as 'Gypsy,' 'pimento peppers,' 'banana,' 'jalapeño,' and 'shishito' thrive in hot weather.
Incorporating flowers into a warm climate garden can enhance pollination, pest management, and garden aesthetics. Some of the best flower options include sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, crossandra, butterfly weed, and catmint. Sunflowers provide natural support for climbing vegetables like beans, offer shade to heat-sensitive crops like pumpkins and squash, and attract pollinators with their bright yellow blooms. Zinnias thrive in hot weather, bloom continuously with good care, and attract beneficial insects that help vegetable gardens by reducing pests.
Cosmos are low maintenance and drought-tolerant, making them ideal companions for summer vegetable gardens. Crossandra, a tropical perennial with bright orange flowers, excels in heat and humidity, while butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) attracts pollinators such as butterflies and blooms repeatedly in summer with bright orange flowers. Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) is a fragrant, heat-resistant herb with lilac to purple flowers that attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
Lantana is another one of Johnson's preferred flower companion plants, especially when it comes to okra, as it attracts ladybugs who love to snack on aphids. Marigolds, Johnson's go-to marigold cultivar, 'Sparky French,' are beneficial for the vegetable garden, especially when it comes to okra.
Embracing heat and humidity by choosing varieties that thrive in warm climates will reward you with bountiful harvests all season long. Planting sweet potato slips once the soil reaches 70 to 80 degrees F and stays consistently above that temperature will result in sweet potatoes that are ready for pies or fries in just six weeks. Sweet potatoes are one of the rare root vegetables that don't need cool temperatures to grow, making them ideal for warm climates.
Incorporating 'Torch' Mexican sunflowers into your edible garden will provide a showstopping addition with their vibrant orange blooms. Sunflowers are a food source for pollinators and provide a vibrant pop of color in your garden.
By selecting the right vegetables and flowers, you can create a thriving, vibrant, and resilient warm climate garden that will provide you with delicious produce all season long.
