Hot Weather Summer Gardening Tips to Help Your Garden Thrive

Every year it seems like some other issues arises to cause trouble in the garden and keep me on my toes. We’re only in early June but record high summer temperatures are already causing problems in my garden. I’ve read that we’re in for the hottest summer on record this year, and so far, it seems like the forecast might be right. To help my summer vegetable garden thrive during the hot summer weather, I’ve put together a helpful list of tips. Let me know what you would add!

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girl in galoshes holding wicker basket of vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, and greens

1. Plant summer vegetables that tolerate high heat

It’s not too late to plant veggies now, but it will help if you plant summer vegetables that tolerate high heat. Not all veggies like the heat, but some really do. Here’s a list of summer vegetables that tolerate high heat. If you’re worried about a hot summer, make sure to grow veggies that will be able to handle it.

okra
corn
hot peppers
eggplants
tomatoes
watermelon
cucumbers
oregano
sage
thyme
rosemary

Also, if you plant vegetables later in the summer, stay on top of watering! They need water to germinate if you’re planting from seed, and they need lots of water initially to really grow. If you want to plant cool weather crops, it might be better to hold off until fall. Here’s a list of vegetables to plant in the fall.

2. Make sure your plants get enough water

Most plants need around an inch of rain per week. While there’s nothing as great as a soaking rain for garden veggies, you can help them succeed during dry times by making sure they get enough water. If you have to supplement water, the best way to water your plants is with a soaker hose, but I’ve also had good luck watering individual plants only with a bucket and large tin can. Watering the plants only helps keeps weeds down too. And if you use a bucket and a tin can, you can also add a bit of food to the water to help fertilize your plants at the same time.

3. Keep the weeds down

Weeds are competition for water and soil nutrients so keeping them at bay will help your garden plants absorb the most water and nutrients they can get from the soil. I don’t know anyone who likes to weed, but it’s important to keep them under control one way or the other.

4. Mulch heavily

Mulch is one of your best friends in the garden. Not only does it help keep the weeds down, but it also helps keep the moisture in the soil. During the hot summer, you want as much moisture in the soil as possible. I can’t stress enough the important of mulching. Here are tips for how to use mulch and free places to find!

5. Shade cloth can help your plants

Shade cloth or netting can help your plants a lot in hot weather by protecting them from both the heat and the sun. I’ve read that shading your plants can help keep soil and air temperatures as much as 10 degrees cooler than the outside air which can make a big different on super hot days. For best results, hang the netting several inches above your crops by using hoops or wooden frames. Covering your crops has other benefits too – such as keeping pests at bay! Learn how to easily cover a raised garden bed here.

6. Pay attention to the weather forecast

Paying attention the weather is a great way to be proactive in the garden. Knowing that the weather is going to turn hot and dry for time will let you take steps before the weather gets too hot. You can take a couple days to cover your crops for instance, or make sure that your garden has been fed nutrients ahead of time. Stay informed about what’s coming so you can prepare and protect your garden!

helping seedlings survive transplating with bioflora seaweed creme

7. Make sure your plants get enough nutrients

Another really important thing to do during hot weather is to make sure your plants get enough nutrients. Hopefully you have a nutrient rich soil already, but don’t forget to feed your plants a good organic plant food during the summer to help them out during the really hot times.