Gardening or farming is all about planting at the right time, and specific crops thrive in the summer. Knowing which crops to grow will help you harvest delicious produce to consume or sell. Read on to learn about the best crops to grow in the summer.
Peppers
Peppers are great crops to grow in the summer because they thrive in hot weather. They need full sun and warm temperatures to grow, making them the perfect summer crop. It’s best to grow these crops when you’re sure the temperature will be consistently above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wait until mid to late summer before growing peppers, and choose a spot that receives sunlight all day. Hotter temperatures will produce hotter peppers since the heat causes the plant to produce more alkaloids. Plan out how spicy you want your peppers by keeping track of the heat waves before they hit.
Beans
Warm soil is essential for beans; since these vegetables grow in under 60 days, you’ll be able to harvest quickly. Plant this crop in a clear area where the ground has direct sunlight.
Most beans keep the soil moist, especially during summers when the ground dries out. Grow yardlong beans and green beans since they tolerate heat and pair well with many homecooked meals.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes do well in high temperatures. They are temperamental, so they’ll bloom in hot weather between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watch for the fully developed fruits to drop when the temperature is high for several days and nights. Tomatoes are great to sell at late-summer markets. Prepare your farmers' market supplies before the harvest for an easy transition into selling.
Berries
Berries prosper in warm weather. They are some of the best crops to plant in the summer because of their ability to handle various temperatures. Grow berries during different times of the summer to stretch out your harvest.
Some berries, like blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, will flower in the earliest parts of summer and have an early fruiting season. Boysenberries and goji berries prefer extremely hot climates, even desert climates where the heat index remains around 100 degrees Fahrenheit!
Planting your crops in the summer is a great way to set up a successful harvest. Plant these crops to yield the best fruits and vegetables before the first chill of autumn.