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christinahobbsofc · 2 years

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Best Crops For Hydroponics Most Recommended Plants

Best Crops For Hydroponics Most Recommended Plants Best Crops For Hydroponics. Congratulations! Now that you've built your first hydroponic system, you can begin growing! What should I grow in my hydroponic garden, though, is the big question at hand. You probably have grand aspirations of feeding your family from your abundant setup at each meal. That is possible, but we suggest that you start out slowly. If you attempt everything at once and encounter difficulties, you might become frustrated and abandon the entire project. Running through a few test crops is crucial because you definitely don't want that to occur. Your hydroponic garden can be expanded and varied once you have a handle on the system. image of Best Crops For Hydroponics Most Recommended Plants for New Hydroponic Gardens The following are the top five plants for hydroponic systems: - Lettuce - Spinach - Strawberries - Peppers, bell - Herbs These plants respond to hydroponics like a duck to water, according to growers. They have great qualities that give a novice grower some leeway, including durability, quick growth, and low startup costs. Let's now examine best crops for hydroponics of these in more detail: Using hydroponic lettuce Your first plant to try with a hydroponic system should be lettuce (and the majority of other leafy greens). These plants have short above-ground heights and shallow root systems. Therefore, there is no need to tie stakes to the ground or install plant guides. Simply allow them to grow while frequently changing their nutrient solution is the better option. They'll eventually appear appetizing enough to eat, and then you can! - 30 days or so for growth - pH 6.0 to 7.0 is ideal. - Stagger your plantings to ensure a steady supply of lettuce for your lunchtime salads! - Romaine, Boston, Iceberg, Buttercrunch, and Bibb are available as options. Using hydroponic spinach In a hydroponic system, spinach grows quickly, especially when the Nutrient Film Technique or other techniques are used to maintain a high oxygen content in the nutrient solution. In comparison to an underground garden, you'll also use a lot less water. These plants are simple to grow from seed, and you can introduce them to your system a week after they sprout. - 40 days or so for growth - pH 6.0 to 7.5 is ideal. - Keep your growing temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit for spinach that is sweeter. Lower temperatures could, however, shorten the growing season. - Savoy, Bloomsdale, Smooth Leafed, Regiment, Catalina, Tyee, and Red Cardinal are some of the variety options. Hydroponically grown strawberries The fact that strawberries are a seasonal food is their worst drawback. If you rely on trucked-in berries, they start to degrade as soon as they are picked if you don't get them when the crop is ready locally. All year long, strawberries that are ready to eat can be grown using hydroponics. It's very convenient to harvest because you don't have to bend over. Deep water culture or the nutrient film technique can work for a small crop of strawberries, though an ebb and flow system seems to work best for them. - 60 days or so for growth - Best pH range: 5.5 to 6.2 - Don't buy strawberry seeds because they won't produce berries for several years. Instead, you should purchase runners that have already reached that stage and are cold-stored. - Brighton, Chandler, Douglass, Red Gauntlet, and Tioga are among the options. Peppers grown hydroponically A slightly more sophisticated hydroponic plant is the bell pepper. Instead of letting them reach their full height, pinch and prune the plants when they are about 8 inches tall to encourage pepper growth. For peppers, deep water culture or ebb and flow systems work best. - Grow time: approximately 90 days - pH 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal. - Plan to give these plants up to 18 hours of light per day, raise your light rack as the plants grow, and maintain a distance of 6 inches between the plants and the lights. - Ace, California Wonder, Vidi, and Yolo Wonder are some options for variety. Hydroponic herb growing Herbs come in a huge variety and are excellent for hydroponic gardening. According to studies, herbs grown hydroponically have a stronger flavor and aroma than those grown in the field. Which herb would you like to grow? Great choices include basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and watercress. Another excellent way to test your new hydroponic system is by producing some herbs, and almost every system style is suitable for this as you get the hang of it! - Growth Period: Varying by Plant - Best pH: Depends on the plant - To get rid of any extra nutrients that your plants haven't (or won't) absorb, flush your growing medium about once a week. - Choose from a variety of options, and you'll find instructions for growing it! FAQ Best Crops For Hydroponics How often should I water my hydroponic drip system? Drip-feeding with different media types In free-draining substrates, such as clay pebbles or rock wool cubes, irrigation frequencies can be as often as every hour or two when plants are feeding heavily. And in larger pots using substrates such as coco and soil, they often only require water once or twice a day. How do you set up a hydroponic drip system? What are the pros and cons of drip irrigation? Drip irrigation Pros Cons Saves water by minimizing evaporation Method cannot be used with high iron content water because emitters become clogged Nutrient losses from leaching is reduced Maintenance is required to keep system going No land grading required Chewing on tubing from insects and rodents can cause water leaks What water is best for hydroponics? Distilled water is the most preferred type of water for hydroponic systems due to its lack of harmful contaminants. Once diluted with tap water, it is the best option. Alternatively, tap water that has undergone reverse osmosis filtration is another great choice. How long should drippers run? How long to water Emitter type Length of each watering High-flow emitter (Up to 20 gph) 12 minutes Low-flow emitter (Up to 4 gph) 30 minutes Low-flow emitter (Up to 2 gph) 60 minutes Low-flow emitter (Up to 1 gph) 90 minutes How long can hydroponic roots be out of water? In general, most hydroponic plants can survive for as much as two to three weeks without water. However, many species are more delicate and may die in as little as three or four days, without water. Do you need a pump for drip irrigation? Unless you are using hundreds of emitters at once, it is not recommended to use a pump to provide water to drip emitters. Instead, we recommend using zero-pressure emitters, such as Flag Emitters, where the pressure created by gravity on an above ground tank is sufficient to provide water to the emitters. How many GPH do you need for hydroponics? Basically, you need to pump 25 gallons per hour if you're running a two hour cycle. This is a good rule of thumb to use to get a baseline for how many GPH you need in a hydroponic pump. However, depending on the size and type of your system, as well as your plants and ambient conditions, that number will vary. Is aeroponics better than hydroponics? Deciding whether to choose an aeroponic aeroponic Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. The word "aeroponic" is derived from the Greek meanings of aer ("air") and ponos ("labour"). It is a type of hydroponics, since water is used in aeroponics to transmit nutrients. What is the downside of using drip irrigation? Disadvantages of the drip irrigation system are given below: High initial investment requirements. Regular capital requirement for replacement of drip irrigation equipment. Drip irrigation emitters are vulnerable to clogging and dysfunction. What are the problems of drip irrigation? One of the main problems with drip irrigation is blockage of the emitters. All emitters have very small waterways ranging from 0.2-2.0 mm in diameter and these can become blocked if the water is not clean. Thus it is essential for irrigation water to be free of sediments. Which irrigation method is the most efficient? Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient way to irrigate many different plantings. It is an ideal way to water in clay soils because the water is applied slowly, allowing the soil to absorb the water and avoid runoff. Is tap water OK for hydroponics? To answer the question – can you use tap water for hydroponics? The answer is yes. Know the water in your area. Know the chlorine, chloramines, and PPM level of your water and treat it properly before starting. Is rainwater OK for hydroponics? But can you use rainwater for hydroponics? It is safe to use water collected from rain barrels in your hydroponic system. Unlike tap water, rainwater does not contain added chlorine or chloramines. In addition, rainwater does not contain as many dissolved minerals as tap water. Do plants grow better with tap water or distilled water? distilled water In side-by-side comparisons, plants watered using distilled water tend to grow faster and stronger than those watered with tap water. We find it the “Best Water for Indoor Plants”. Plants watered with distilled pure water usually produce more leaves and grow more vigorously. Read the full article

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wealthypioneers · 2 years

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Enjoy enhanced nutrition and a deeper connection to your food by growing your own. ---- Benefits of these salad greens: - Help lower bad cholesterol and fat - Support a stronger immune system - Fight cardiovascular disease - Boosts the Metabolism - Boosts the Metabolism - Boosts the Metabolism - Keeps Your Focus and Memory - Good for Eyesight - Makes Respiratory System Better - Makes Your Bones and Tooth Stronger - Prevents Anemia - Effective Against Candida Albicans - Lowers the Risk of Kidney Stones - Prevents Diabetes - Prevents Cancer Cell Growth - Prevents Premature Ageing - Good for Pregnancy - May help protect your brain Source: https://drhealthbenefits.com/food-bevarages/vegetables/health-benefits-salad-greens Disclaimer: We try our best to make our salad mixes as diverse as possible but we can not guarantee that you will get all listed types of seeds in your package. If you order more, you will increase your chances of getting more varieties. Our garden seeds are sustainably sourced in the USA. Have confidence about our quality and 100% satisfaction guarantee. These seeds can work with aero garden pods and other hydroponic systems. Visit our store and shop for all kinds of vegetable herb and greens seeds to complete your bug-out bag supplies. We offer full customer support & we'll do whatever we can to make sure you’re growing your best ever! We're always here to help. http://springsofeden.myshopify.com/products/7-amazing-types-salad-mixture-of-seeds-200-varieties-organic-heirloom-non-gmo-bn250

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snowe-zolynn-rogers · 4 years

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I’ve been doing gardening for over 10 years (My mom worked at our community garden when I was little, so I helped.). My favorite thing to grow is nasturtiums. They look really pretty!!! Also they taste really good. I’m currently unable to do it, but as soon as I’m better I’m going to make herb butter with my basil that went to seed! Also what are you growing? I’ve never been to Florida but I assume that the heat and bad weather would make it hard to grow taller things like tomatoes and sugar snap peas.

I tried *frantically searched for list* roma tomatoes, romaine lettuce, carrots, peas, radishes, spinach, brandywine tomatoes, cucumbers, swiss chard, arugula, tiny pumpkins, cauliflower, buttercrunch lettuce, black seeded simpson lettuce, kale, cherry tomatoes, golden jubilee tomatoes, ace tomatoes, jalapenos, and yellow pear tomatoes.

Right now I have a few packs of leftover seeds from a few of those above and bell peppers and dandelions I’ve been debating planting. I’ll probably hold off on them until after I visit my partner because the next few months are going to be very overwhelming already.

(Context for the last sentence: I’ve been debating moving out and away from my parents and, when I visit Fawn, I plan to decide if I want to stay and say I like Austin more than Ocala or if I just needed a break from my family.

#snoweyanswers #plants #gardening

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weedlovingweed · 4 years

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garden update! pics from today and 6/10.

top left is the compost + the little garden in front of it on 6/10, right is the whole garden area today (6/14)! we planted ALL of the kale + lettuce that was in the long rectangular container and it was... much more than i thought. i added a row of kale between the tomatoes and kale that’s already there, expanded the little lettuce patch, and then dedicated the WHOLE front of the tomato-and-bean zone with alternating kale + romaine (3 rows!!! i don’t even LIKE kale guys.) added a few more beans to the bean grate and a zucchini where the two garden squares meet. (ik the kale and lettuce look like shit they just always lay down when i plant them -_- idiots. they’ll stand up soon)

the middle pics are the aforementioned lettuce hell container and bean + tomato zone, 6/10. those beans have been growing like CRAZY and the tomatoes have all been acclimating so good every time i’ve replanted! the lettuce move happened WAYYYY later than intended and they were so rootbound and the kale was outcompeting the romaine a lot. ):

bottom is the new bench set-up and the raised bed in the bottom half of our old grill lol. a lot of reusing in this garden. there’s 4 tomatoes in the rectangle now, and the small pots got a bunch of seeds! chives, cilantro, spearmint, and parsley. the grill has 2 tomato plants and there will be a bean in the back, then a zucchini in the middle, and the lettuces up front. this little bell pepper plant has been doing great too, and the ONE chive we have is thriving. it’s so thick and green!

next up is gonna be planting some buttercrunch, filling the other side of the grill (ran out of soil), and more herbs. i want to grow a couple more zucc or squash plants too and POTATOES. our onion plants unfortunately were trampled by the dogs and are tiny but the stems are all yellow, so i think a few more days and they’ll be harvestable. and the tomatoes in the long pot will be taken to family in 3 weeks so i’m gonna get to do something else with it! :) i’m excited to watch these all grow more!!

#my garden

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marybromley · 5 years

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Brian Minter: Veggies for cool gardens

Many of us are anxious to begin our food gardening, even if that means planting a container on the 27th floor of an apartment. In fact, I know folks who, despite February’s rude weather, have already planted seeds and early transplants.

As a longtime fan of Mother Nature, she’s taught me many lessons. The most important one is realizing how little I understand the complexities of her many cycles. One observation that I have clued into is her starting gun for early planting — the yellow forsythia. When its blossoms first open, it’s her signal to begin planting cold-hardy vegetables. My other guide is reasonably consistent daytime temperatures of 10 C.

It’s also important to have a location somewhat protected from prevailing winds as they can be quite cooling, as well as a spot that gets at least three to four hours of sunlight, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s intensity is the strongest.

Proper soil preparation is also essential. Open, porous soil with some good moisture-retaining qualities is ideal. Working in well broken-down compost adds beneficial bacteria, and composted manures provide rich, organic nutrients. If you have only a small space, compost and manures are available in bags at garden stores. Sea Soil is also a very helpful additive. For container growing, use only quality soils. I like the Sunshine and Pro-Mix brands that contain mycorrhizae, a beneficial bacterium. Both also use OMRI-certified organic soils.

Today, raised beds are the most popular way to grow veggies. No matter what is used to construct the raised beds, building them to knee-high height provides the best depth of soil. I often joke that the older you are, the higher you should build them.

Even basic gardens should have rows of soil bermed up at least eight to10 inches because the soil will drain more quickly and will also be five-to-eight-degrees-Celsius warmer.

The acidity or alkalinity of the soil is important too. Our garden beds are the recipients of seasonal rains that can alter the pH level of soils. A little lime, either Dolopril or the organic eggshell lime, will amend the acidity levels. The calcium in lime provides a beneficial element to plants, especially tomatoes. As a rule of thumb, even though the bags provide estimated coverage, for small areas, a four-inch grower’s pot of lime per four cubic feet of garden space is a good ‘guesstimate’ of the amount to apply. As long as the pH level of your soil measures between five and eight, you should be fine. There are pH testing kits available, but they simply provide approximate measurements.

So, what to plant early? Potatoes are right up there, but they need to be planted in an area that hasn’t had lime or manure applied, in order to remain clean and free of scab. There are so many innovative ways to grow them, such as potato bags. These heavy-duty, reusable bags hold enough clean soil to grow several potato plants, making them ideal for small spaces. Potatoes grow well in raised beds, but if you plant them in level ground, copy the local potato growers who keep their spuds warmer and drier by planting them in raised berms that have a good soil depth to allow the tuberous roots to grow deep.

Using small potato seed is best but can often be hard to find. Cut larger seed potatoes into two or three pieces so that each piece has two or three ‘eyes’, which are basically baby sprouts that must be planted facing upward. To prevent rot, the cut pieces must be allowed to dry for at least a day before planting. I also spray or dust them with sulphur powder, and organic liquid sulphur is also available. The sulphur odour tends to keep insects away.

Potatoes come in many varieties: early, midseason and late. At this time of year, plant only the early ones. Locally, ‘Warba’ and ‘Norland’ are two of the most popular varieties and can be ready in as little as 55 days. Despite the unhealthy reputation of potato chips and french fries, potatoes are actually nutritious when prepared without a lot of added calories. They have more Vitamin C than an orange, and it’s hard to beat that new potato flavour.

In early gardens, onions also play a starring role. It’s a little late to start them from seed, although it can still be done, but there are great alternatives for a faster crop. Many folks use so-called ‘Dutch sets’ for nice medium-sized onions ready in about 90 days. They also come in Spanish and red types for different flavours. You simply plant them in well-draining soil about three times as deep as the width of the bulb (i.e. a bulb one-centimetre across is planted three-centimetres deep).

The most popular onion in B.C. is the ‘Walla Walla’. It’s not a great keeper, but the flavour — wow! ‘Walla Wallas’ are also the hardiest onion, often tolerating winter conditions of -23 C. Many growers provide starter packs for easy planting. Another favourite is the larger bunches of seedling onions that are grown in Walla Walla, Wash. I cut about one-third off the tops when I plant any of these seedlings to make them sturdier for transplanting.

With onions, size matters. The giant ‘Kelsae’ onion is king, often growing up to the world record of 15 pounds and producing great flavour in 110 days. ‘Ailsa Craig’ is another whopper at eight inches in diameter.

For green onions, use the multiplier bulbs and, of course, where would we be without shallots and bunching onions?

Peas are next on the popularity chart, and you can either plant them from seed now or buy transplants that are ready to grow. The old-time traditional varieties, like ‘Little Marvel’ (62 days to maturity), ‘Green Arrow’ (62-70 days) and tall ‘telephone’ types like ‘Alderman’ (70-78 days), are still great but to be honest, I’m a fan of the super-snap varieties because certain ones can be shelled like regular peas or you can eat the sweet pod and all.

Many super-snap peas are harvested as flat snow peas, but varieties like ‘Sugar Daddy’ (68 days), Sugar Ann’ (56 days) and ‘Super Sugar Snap’ (70 days) — all AAS winners — produce tasty peas as well. When the weather suddenly turns hot, they maintain their sweetness as well.

The next most popular early season crops are the brassicas, such as kale, baby broccoli (‘Aspabroc’ broccolini 50 days). All brassicas have early, midseason and late varieties that perform best in their specific time frame. Select the newer hybrid varieties not only for the best garden performance, but also for improved flavours and disease resistance. From broccoli, kohlrabi, cabbage and cauliflower to the many new Asian brassicas, like sui choy, there are many novelty varieties that are culinary treats. Be sure to lime the soil where your brassicas will be grown.

Even though you can still seed, brassica transplants will save you four weeks of time. When you set the transplants out, bury them deep so the soil is up to the bottom leaves, and when you see those cute, but hungry, little white moths flitting about, either cover the plants with floating row covers or use the bacterial spray B.T.K. When you purchase cauliflower, make sure to get the self-wrapping type to keep those heads pure white.

My how lettuce has changed over the years. There must be a huge craving for Caesar salads because some of the best-selling varieties today are all the romaine types (50 days to maturity). Next on the lettuce hot list are the looseleaf and bibb types. With these kinds of lettuce you can harvest the outside leaves for a long period. ‘Buttercrunch’ (67 days), ‘Grand Rapids’ (65 days), ‘Salad Bowl’ (60 days) and the lovely red types, like ‘Red Sails’, are colourful and delicious. Head lettuces are still available, but the gourmet blends, with all their unique colours, are taking over in popularity.

‘Simply Salad’ lettuces blend many flavours together in seed clusters not only for beauty, but also for great taste. My favourite, ‘Simply Salad City Garden’, can be harvested from May till August. As well, there are radicchios, mesclun bends, arugulas, mustards and many other Asian greens available today for an amazing selection. From the new colour blends of swiss chard and spinach to pak choi and even beets, there are lots of wonderful salad greens that will tolerate our April weather and produce within a few weeks.

Broad beans, too, can be planted now for a June harvest.

These early vegetables will do well in our cool gardens. So, when we reach 10 C days, and when you see forsythia in bloom, let’s get growing.

PS: If Mother Nature is a bit fickle and throws a colder curve at us, floating row covers or the thicker N-Sulate fabric will protect all your plants from a late frost.

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Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email [email protected].

Brian Minter: Veggies for cool gardens published first on https://weedkillerguide.tumblr.com/

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toolsbestseller · 6 years

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11 Vegetables & Fruit Ideas to Grow in your Backyard This Summer

Summer can be an exciting period with all sort of fun outdoor activities. For those of us with great looking gardens in our backyard, it could be a nightmare. We might get a little worried because the summer sun during the day and warm nights can take a toll on the crops in our gardens.

Some of you have been asking questions like “what is the best vegetable to grow in the summer?”

You don’t have to worry because I have good exciting news for you, there are some crops that can withstand the heat and keep your vegetable garden productive and your backyard looking attractive.

I made a list of 11 ideas for vegetables you can plant in your backyard garden this summer.

Vegetables & Fruits to Grow in the Summer Season

1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes is one of my favorite vegetables to grow during the summer season. However, the hot summer temperatures can affect the growth of the tomatoes. Julie Martens in her article on growing tomatoes in summer highlights this problem:

Sizzling summer temperatures can bring your previously productive tomato plants to a screeching halt. When days hit 85°F to 90°F and nights hover above 75°F, tomato flowers often fail to pollinate, then drop — which in turn puts new fruit production on hold. The longer the heat lasts, the longer those tomato flowers will continue to hit the pause button. In short, hot weather can delay your tomato crop.

Read Julie’s article about how to grow tomatoes in hot weather Here

2. Peppers

Via bonnieplants.com

Another easy vegetable you should consider growing in your backyard this summer is pepper. Peppers do well in the summer season. An article on Bonnieplants.com provides a quick guide:

Growing peppers is easy in any sunny, well-drained spot, and they are good candidates for roomy containers, too. Peppers have a naturally upright growth habit, so they often benefit from staking, which keeps brittle branches from breaking when they become heavy with fruit.

Colorful peppers also make great additions to beds planted with flowers and other edible ornamentals, where they can easily serve as specimen plants. In beds or rows, the best spacing for most pepper plants is 18 to 24 inches apart (check the tag for exceptions).

Peppers grow best in a soil with a pH between 6.2 and 7.0, although they can tolerate slightly alkaline conditions near 7.5. Mix a 3- to 5-inch layer of compost into each planting hole, as shown in the step-by-step planting directions. A generous amount of organic matter helps the soil retain moisture, and moist soil is crucial for good pepper production. After planting, mulch each plant to keep the soil cool and moist.

Visit bonnieplants.com see the complete Quick Guide to Growing Peppers in the Summer.

3. Lima Beans

This snap like looking beans is easy and quick to produce. It does best in temperatures between 60° and 70°F.

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Marianne Lipanovich puts it this way:

Lima beans evoke strong feelings in people, so keep that in mind if you add them to your garden. They combine features of both snap and dry beans. They look like snap beans and are available as bush and pole varieties, but are slower growing and need to be shelled before eating. They can be eaten green or dried.

Lima beans come in different varieties. Steve Albert advice that lima beans be planted in evenly moist and well-drained soil:

Grow lima beans in soil that is evenly moist and well drained. Bean seeds may crack and germinate poorly if the soil moisture is too high at sowing. Do not soak seeds in advance of planting or they may crack; do not over-water after sowing. Keep the soil evenly moist during flowering and pod formation. Rain or overhead irrigation during flowering can cause flowers and small pods to fall off. Once the soil temperature averages greater than 60°F, mulch to conserve moisture.

You can find learn more in Steve’s article How to Grow Lima Beans.

4. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are easy to grow plants that do well in hot summer and are sensitive to cold weather. They come in two varieties: vining and bush varieties. They both can be planted in the hot summer weather. You can follow DIY Network’s steps on How to Plant and Grow Sweet Potatoes

5. Watermelons

In the hot summer having a slice of cold sweet, juicy homegrown watermelon is one of summer’s great pleasures and you should definitely consider growing it this summer. It requires warm soil with temperatures of about 70 degrees F.

To be safe, wait until at least 2 weeks past your area’s last frost date. Prior to planting, cover soil with black plastic to hasten soil warming. Because watermelons are heavy feeders, prepare your planting bed by adding seaweed, compost, or rotted manure. For best nutrient uptake, the soil pH should be between 6 and 6.8, although the plants will tolerate a pH as low as 5. If you live near a horse farm, another option that works well is to excavate the soil 1 foot deep, add a 9-inch-thick layer of fresh manure, and then cover that with 3 inches of soil mixed with compost. This creates a bed with a high-nitrogen soil base that’s naturally warm. Some gardeners even plant melons in their compost piles to ensure a warm footing and adequate nitrogen. Read Full Article…

6. Lettuce

For those of you that come from relatively cool weather climate, chances are that you love lettuce and even grow it. The fact is growing lettuce is relatively easy. Here is where the problem is, it is not a tropical plant, which means lettuce does Not like hot weather. If you still want to grow lettuce in summer, don’t worry, there is a solution.

Choose heat-tolerant varieties

There are four basic groups of lettuces: Crisphead, Leaf, Bibb and Romaine. This article on groworganic.com have identified the Heat Tolerant varieties in all four lettuce groups:

Bibb Buttercrunch, Speckles, Summer Bibb, Summer Bibb Blend

Crisphead Michelle

Leaf Black Seeded Simpson, Green Salad Bowl, Red Deer Tongue

Romaine Little Gem, Parris Island Cos

Provide shade

I found this video below very useful. You get tips on how to provide shade without spending anything.

youtube

Finally, you shouldn’t forget to water the lettuce regularly!

7. Cucumber

Cucumber is easy to grow vegetable you consider growing this summer. Cucumbers don’t need much attention as long as you provide steady moisture. My friends at burpee.com put it this way “No summer garden should be without cucumbers.” Here are some tips they gave:

To improve overall cucumber production, consider using the following two techniques. Use black or brown plastic mulch. Because a warm, moist soil is essential for top production, use dark plastic mulch on the cucumber bed. This will speed up growth and increase yields by conserving soil moisture and maintaining a high soil temperature. The mulch will also keep weeds at bay.

Think vertical! When planning the garden, consider growing vining cucumber varieties like ‘Sweet Success’ and ‘Tasty Green’ vertically on a trellis, fence, or other support. This makes the best use of garden space by containing the vines and keeping them from sprawling throughout the garden, as well as keeping the fruits clean and straight as they develop above the ground. Researchers have proven that growing cucumbers vertically dramatically increases yields because the vines receive better air circulation and more sunlight than vines on the ground. Read Full Article…

8. Summer Squash

Summer squash is easy to grow vegetable you should definitely try growing in your backyard this summer. It can also be a great way to add great colors to your kitchen and backyard. Summer squash can grow in a wide range of weather conditions. Barbara Pleasant gave a list of Types of Summer Squash to Try:

Most summer squash are classified as Cucurbita pepo and vary more in appearance than taste. They come in a range of sizes, shapes and colors, so make plantings of several types to add variety to your table.

Yellow squash are buttery yellow and elongated, and some have crooked necks. Overripe fruits turn into warted gourds.

Zucchini squash produce large crops of club-shaped fruits with skins in varying shades of green. Some zucchini squash varieties are striped or even bright yellow.

Pattypan squash are an old type of summer squash that produce fruits shaped like plump flying saucers with scalloped edges. Varieties range from dark green to bright yellow to white.

Round and oval squash produce single-serving-sized fruits on compact, bushy plants suitable for large containers or intensive raised beds.

Tromboncino and zucchetta squash (C. moschata) produce large, curvaceous fruits with light green skins. Naturally resistant to insect pests, these rowdy, vining plants grow best on a trellis. Read Complete Article.…

9. Strawberries

I don’t have to tell you that strawberries are one of the most delicious fruits you can grow in your backyard garden. This delicious fruit can add to your list of summer treats. Steve’s in his article on Growing Strawberries in Hot Summer Climates taught me some useful tips for growing strawberries in hot summer regions:

Plant strawberries in late summer when the days are cooling, but the soil remains warm. This is the time of year older plants will also begin to revive. Fall is not the usual time to find strawberries in nurseries or garden centers; you may have to call on strawberry growing friends to give you strong plants or established runners. Set plants into compost rich, well-drained ground at the same level they were growing before. Do not set the crown of the plant too high or it will dry out; do not set plant crowns too low or they will rot. Water transplants into place and adjust plants if they settle too deeply. Set plants about 12 inches apart allowing space for runners that will follow to fill in the bed. Read Steve’s Article..

10. Carrots

I don’t have to tell you about the health benefits of carrots, they provide vitamin A, give us a beautiful skin, help in cancer prevention, they also help in oral health and eyesight. Carrots perform better in cool weather. Although they can be grown year round, the summer heat tends to decrease their sweetness.

When it’s hot and dry, you can also grow shorter, smaller carrot types that mature relatively quickly, such as the Parisian Market variety Atlas .

Growing carrots in the shadier, cooler part of the farm is critical for bringing them successfully through the heat. Sufficiently irrigating carrots from seeding to harvest can help keep the soil cool, and flavor better. Roots that are well irrigated will be milder and less bitter. Keep Reading Johnny’s Carrot Growing Guide

Also, check out Johnny’s article on Getting Your COOL-WEATHER Crops Through Summer’s Heat and Steve’s article on Grow Carrots Anytime of the Year in Five Steps

11. Peas

Peas are considered one of the most important plants in the human diet. Unfortunately, peas don’t really do very well during the hot months of the summer. They enjoy the cool spring weather and stop producing in hot summer temperatures. Gordon Solberg shares his dad’s secret on how to grow peas in a hot climate:

Despite the Sahara-like weather, Dad seemed to grow magnificent crops of peas, on vines that stood up and bore heavily even when afternoon temperatures hovered around the century mark! His secret: Give the plants water … lots of water. With this in mind, I decided I’d try to grow peas after all. Read the full article

The post 11 Vegetables & Fruit Ideas to Grow in your Backyard This Summer appeared first on Tools Bestseller.

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What to plant now

What to Plant Now

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Tools For Garden Planning

Listed below are flower, vegetable and herb varieties that are great to start planting in the different months based on the Hardiness Zone that you live in.

January #

January is a great time to start planning what vegetable varieties to be grown in the garden. Look through your catalogs and find the vegetable seeds for your garden. Some flower varieties should be started in January. In a warmer environment you can plant certain vegetables, but must be ready for a frost. Indoor herbs are always great to grow in a sunny windowsill.

Tomatoes, Peppers & Eggplants (Zones 8-10): If you live in Zones 8-10, get a head start on the growing season by starting your tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds indoors. Most tomatoes and peppers will take 6-8 weeks to reach transplant size so plan according to your climate! Learn More: How to Grow Tomatoes, How to Grow Peppers, How to Grow Eggplant Suggested tomato varieties: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Roma, Sweetie, Heirloom Blend Suggested pepper varieties: California Wonder, Early Jalapeno, Sweet Banana, Super Chili Suggested eggplant varieties: Black Beauty, Little Finger

B roccoli (Zones 8-10): If you live in a warmer climate, like Zones 8-10, and can find a quick growing Broccoli variety, you can harvest until it bolts in the hot summer sun! Learn More: How to Grow Broccoli Suggested varieties: Calabrese, De Cicco

Onions (Zones 8-10): Late January is a great time to start your onion seeds indoors if you live in Zones 8-10. For Zones 3-7 start your onion seeds in late February. Let the onions grow to 5-6 inches tall and cut tops off so they will be only 3 inches. Repeating this until they are transplanted helps strengthen the roots and health of the onions. Learn More: How to Grow Onions Suggested varieties: Sweet White Walla Walla, Candy Hybrid, Yellow Sweet Spanish, Nebuka Evergreen

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are definitely the most popular indoor plant to grow throughout the winter months in any Zone. Try your hand at these 5 most popular herbs. Also check out the Urban Farmer Herb Kit Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Basil, Chives, Oregano, Parsley, Thyme

Flowers (Zones 8-10): Now is a great time to get your spring flowers germinating and ready for spring! There are many different varieties of annuals and perennials with different grow times. Pay attention to grow times so that your flowers are ready to be planted after last frost. Below are some good varieties to start in January if you are in Zone 8-10 for a last frost in March and April! Annuals: Zinnias, Marigolds, Geraniums Perennials: Rudbeckias, Daisies, Poppies, Coneflowers

February

Get your garden planning started! In some warmer locations, you can begin sowing your vegetable seeds outdoors. For cooler areas, February is a great time to sow your tomatoes and peppers. You should start drawing out your garden for all the vegetables you want to grow. In late February, there are several cool weather vegetables you can directly sow out in the garden.

Broccoli (Zones 7-10): If you live in Zones 7-10, and can find a quick growing Broccoli variety, you can harvest until it bolts in the hot summer sun! Learn More: How to Grow Broccoli Suggested variety: De Cicco

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are definitely the most popular indoor plant to grow throughout the winter months in any Zone. Plant heat loving herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and sage. Also check out the Urban Farmer Herb Kit Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Italian Basil, Greek Oregano, French Thyme, Broadleaf Sage

Lettuce (Zones 7-10): In Zones 7-10, start a crop of salad mix greens that gets bright sun, but not all day. Great for spring crops until the lettuce begins to bolt in the summer sun! Learn More: How to Grow Lettuce Suggested Varieties: Buttercrunch, Mesclun Mix, Black Seeded Simpson

Onions (Zones 7-10): Get those onion seeds growing! Zones 7-10 should plant long day onions, and Zones 3-6 should plant short day onions. Be careful to select an onion variety appropriate for your climate! Learn More: How to Grow Onions Suggest varieties: Sweet White Walla Walla, Red Creole, Yellow Spanish, Candy Hybrid

Peppers (Zones 7-10): Fresh, crisp peppers are a garden favorite. Peppers take up little space and can produce high yields when planted close together. Plant as many different varieties as possible! They come small, big, hot, mild, and an array of different colors. For Zones 7-10, start seeds 8-10 weeks before your last frost date indoors for best results. Learn More: How to Grow Peppers Suggested varieties: California Wonder, Early Jalapeno, Sweet Banana, Super Chili

Tomatoes (Zones 7-10): The most popular garden vegetable! Growing tomatoes is not only fun, but treats you to some of the best tasting fruits in the world. Tomatoes come in many colors, shapes, taste, and sizes. Grow a few varieties every year to find your favorites! For Zones 7-10 start seeds 6-8 weeks before your last frost date indoors for best results. Learn More: How to Grow Tomatoes Suggested varieties: Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Siberian, Roma, Heirloom Blend

Annual and Perennial Flowers (Zones 7-10): Now is a great time to get your spring flowers germinating and ready for spring! There are many different varieties of annuals and perennials with different grow times. Pay attention to grow times so that your flowers are ready to be planted after last frost. Below are some good varieties to start in January if you are in Zone 7-10 for a last frost in March and April! Annuals: Zinnias, Marigolds, Geraniums Perennials: Rudbeckias, Daisies, Poppies, Coneflowers

March

It’s finally March! March is the perfect time to get those tomato and pepper seeds started indoors so they can be ready for an early spring planting! Also now is a great time to start planting cool weather vegetables that can withstand those last frost days of March and April.

Beets (Zones 7-10): Beets are a tasty root vegetable edible for both its bulb and green tops. Beets prefer cooler weather and can be grown in early spring to late summer. For Zones 7-10, sow beets now for a fast, early summer treat! Learn More: How to Grow Beets Suggested variety: Golden Detroit

Broccoli (Zones 5-10): Broccoli is a hardy, cool-season vegetable bringing colorful green nutrients to the table. If you live in Zones 5-10 and can find a quick growing Broccoli variety, you can harvest in late spring until it bolts in the hot summer sun! Learn More: How to Grow Broccoli Suggested varieties: De Cicco, Spring Raab

Cabbage (Zones 5-10): Cabbage is one of the easier plants to grow in the garden as it is a hardy vegetable that comes in different colors and sizes. In Zones 5-10, be sure to select a variety that is right for your location (size and maturity length). Fertilize and water when cabbage head begins to form! Learn More: How to Grow Cabbage Suggested varieties: Late Flat Dutch, Golden Acre, Michihili

Carrots (Zones 5-10): Other than the typical orange, carrots can be found in red, white, rainbow and purple colors. For Zones 5-10, start carrot seeds indoors so you can transplant them outdoors in early to mid May. Learn More: How to Grow Carrots Suggested varieties: Atomic Red, Black Nebula

Cauliflower (Zones 5-10): Cauliflower varieties generally do best when started in the cool weather of spring. They are easy to grow under most conditions and will hold well. Zones 5-10, start seeds 4-7 weeks before the last frost depending on length of season. Learn More: Cauliflower-seed-to-harvest”>How to Grow Cauliflower Suggested varieties: Amazing, Snow Crown

Corn (Zones 8-10): Corn is one of the most rewarding and fast growing crops to grow! Corn is delicious when cooked only minutes after being pulled off the stalk. For Zones 8-10, try a small plot of corn after the last spring frost, working your way to a large field of several varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Corn Suggested varieties: Early Golden Bantam , Ambrosia, Sweet G90

Cucumbers (Zones 5-10): Fast growing vine or bush cucumber plants can produce an abundance of delicious fruits. Be careful to pick a variety for the space you have in your garden! Vine cucumbers can be the best tasting, but need far more space than bush varieties. For Zones 5 and 6, start seeds indoors so you can transplant them outdoors between April and June. Warmer areas can sow directly two weeks after the last frost. Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers Suggest varieties: Spacemaster 80, Green Finger, Manny

Eggplants (Zones 5-10): Eggplants are delicious in various cuisine, but also make to be a great meat substitute for its hardy, tender texture. Start eggplant seeds indoors up to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Learn More: How to Grow Eggplant Suggest varieties: Black Beauty, Little Finger

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are great to grow in order to add fresh flavors to any dish. For Zones 5-10, herbs can start to be transplanted outdoors. In any Zone, herbs are definitely the most popular indoor plant to grow year-round. Also check out the Urban Farmer Herb Kit for a variety of herbs! Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Sweet High Oil Basil, Standard Chive, Vulgaris Thyme, Bouquet Dill

Lettuce (Zones 5-10): Lettuce is a great source of Vitamin A and will add color to any tossed salads for a summer treat. For Zones 5-10, start a crop of salad mix greens 4-6 weeks before the last frost that gets bright sun, but not all day. Great for late summer and early fall crops! Learn More: How to Grow Lettuce Suggested Varieties: Gabriella, Garden Leaf Blend, Dwarf Romaine

Melons (Zones 7-10): Melons are a sweet and colorful addition to summer meals and are great for a home garden. For Zones 7-10, start seeds indoors for a head start on your summer garden. Great for hot, long summers and a staple for summer picnics and family fun! Learn More: How to Grow Melons Suggested varieties: Honeydew Green Flesh, Honey Dew Stutz Supreme, Rich Sweetness

Read more: 10 of the best herbs to grow in your garden

Onions (Zones 5-10): Get those onion seeds growing! Be careful to select an onion variety appropriate for your garden zone. Northern areas should plant long day onions, and Southern regions should plant short day onions. If you live in Zones 5-10, you should start transplanting your onions outdoors. Learn More: How to Grow Onions Suggest varieties: Sweet White Walla Walla, Red Creole, Yellow Spanish, Candy Hybrid

Peas (Zones 5-10): Peas are a cool-weather vegetable that will flourish in the spring. For Zones 5-10, green peas and sugar peas are good to start 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost to yield a summer harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Peas Suggested varieties: Sugar Snap, Alaska

Peppers (Zones 5-10): The fresh, crisp taste of peppers are a garden favorite. Peppers take up little space and can produce high yields when planted close together. Plant as many different varieties as possible! They come small, big, hot, mild, and an array of different colors. For Zones 5-10, start seeds 6-12 weeks before your last frost date indoors for best results. Learn More: How to Grow Peppers Suggested varieties: California Wonder, Early Jalapeno, Sweet Banana, Rainbow Blend Bell

Spinach (Zones 5-10): Spinach is a tasty cool weather vegetable and will produce until the hot weather of summer. For Zones 5-10, planting in early March will ensure you have plenty of harvest before bolting! Learn More: How to Grow Spinach Suggested varieties: Red Kitten, Renegade

Summer Squash (Zones 5-10): Summer Squash is a very versatile plant to grow with many options. For Zones 5-10, starting in March or 3-4 weeks before the last frost and sowing in June will lead to fresh squash and zucchini to enjoy during the the hot summer. Learn More: How to Grow Squash Suggested Varieties: Cocozelle, Waltham Butternut

Tomatoes (Zones 5-10): Tomatoes are the most popular garden vegetable to grow! Growing tomatoes is not only fun, but also treats you to some of the best tasting fruits in the world. Varieties can come in many colors, shapes, taste and sizes. Start growing a few varieties every year to find your favorites! For Zones 5-10, start seeds 6-8 weeks before your last frost date indoors for best results. Learn More: How to Grow Tomatoes Suggested varieties: Betty, Cherokee Purple, Vintage Wine, Sweet Million, Tasty Evergreen

April

Yes, Yes, Yes! April is finally here meaning that your garden soil is finally warming up! April is the best time to plant most of your vegetable seeds after your last frost. It’s still not too late to plant tomatoes and peppers from seeds as well. Be sure to check your gardening zone for last frost dates.

Beans (Zones 3-10): There are two main kinds of beans found in gardens, bush beans and pole beans. Start planting both bush and pole beans now that the soil and air are warmed up as they should not have been started indoors. Try a continual 7-10 day sowing of different varieties, this will give you continual bean crops and not one large harvest with wasted crop! Learning More: How to Grow Beans Suggested varieties: French Garden, Golden Wax

Beets (Zones 3-10): Beets are a perfect cool-weather vegetable that come in a variety of hues and shapes. All Zones can sow beets now for a fast, early summer treat! Learn More: How to Grow Beets Suggested Varieties: Early Wonder , Chioggia

Cabbage (Zones 3-10): Cabbage is one of the easier plants to grow in the garden. Sown in April will lead to a great summer harvest! Select a variety that is right for your location (size and maturity length) and be sure to fertilize and water when cabbage head begins to form. Learn More: How to Grow Cabbage Suggested varieties: Late Flat Dutch, Golden Acre, Michihili

Carrots (Zones 3-10): Carrots are a tasty summer treat for both humans and pets. Sowing in April will give an early summer crop! Learn More: How to Grow Carrots Suggested varieties: Little Finger, Scarlet Nantes, Rainbow Mix

Corn (Zones 3-10): Corn is a fast growing crop! Corn is delicious when grilled, boiled or steamed fresh off the stalk. Try a small plot of corn two weeks after the last frost,, working your way to a large field of several varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Corn Suggested varieties: Honey Select Sweet, obsession, Butter and Sugar

Cucumbers (Zones 3-10): Fast growing vine or bush cucumber plants can produce an abundance of cucumber fruits for a summer harvest. Be careful to pick a variety for the space you have in your garden. Cucumbers can be transplanted three weeks after being started or planted directly two weeks after the last spring frost. Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers Suggested varieties: Spacemaster 80, Boston Pickling, Burpless Bush Slicer

Eggplants (Zones 3-10): Eggplants are a great meat substitute and can come in different colors of white, orange, light purple and various shapes, for an attractive summer harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Eggplant Suggested varieties: Florida Market High Bush, Rosa Bianca

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are great to grow inside year-round, but if you want to plant outside now you can start to plant heat loving herbs like basil, oregano, cilantro thyme and sage. Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Italian Basil, Greek Oregano, Slow Bolt Cilantro, French Thyme, Broadleaf Sage

Lettuce (Zones 3-10): Lettuce is a fast grower, so you can stagger the plantings for a continuous harvest. Sowing lettuce in late spring is great for late summer and early fall crops! Learn More: How to Grow Lettuce Suggested Varieties: Parris Island Cos, Garden Leaf Blend, Iceberg

Melons (Zones 3-10): Melons are great for hot, long summers and a staple for summer picnics and family fun! Start seeds indoors and transplant outdoors after 6-8 weeks. Learn More: How to Grow Melons Suggested varieties: Tasty Bites, Honey Rock, Rocky Ford Green Flesh

Onions (Zones 3-10): If you haven’t already, start planting your onions! Be careful to select an onion variety appropriate for your garden zone. If you are in a cooler climate, plant long day onions and if you are in a warmer climate, plant short day onions. Learn More: How to Grow Onions Suggest variety: Red Grano, Ailsa Craig Exhibition, White Sweet Spanish

Peas (Zones 3-10): Delicious green peas and sugar peas should be planted in April as they will flourish in the spring weather and will produce a May crop! Learn More: How to Grow Peas Suggested variety: Dwarf Grey Sugar, Sugar Ann, Alderman

Peppers (Zones 3-10): Fresh, crisp peppers are a garden favorite and can produce high yields when planted close together. April is the time to sow as many different varieties as possible! They come small, big, hot, mild and an array of different colors. If you haven’t already planted your peppers outdoors, now is the time to do so! Learn More: How to Grow Peppers Suggested varieties: King of the North, Early Jalapeno, Joe Parker

Summer Squash (Zones 3-10): Summer squash is such a tasty summer treat when roasted or grilled! Planting summer squash in late April will lead to fresh, tasty squash and zucchini in the summer. Learning More: How to Grow Squash Suggested Varieties: Scallop Blend, Early Prolific Straightneck, Garden Spineless

Tomatoes (Zones 3-10): If you haven’t already started your tomato seeds, start them now! Homegrown tomatoes taste delicious fresh, or they can be used for canning, sauces and other recipes. Learn More: How to Grow Tomatoes Suggested varieties: San Marzano, Sun Gold, Bradley, Red Zebra

Annual and Perennial Flowers (Zones 8-10): April is a great time to start to sow your flowers indoors so they can be ready for summer blooms! Annuals: Marigolds, Zinnias Perennials: Tidal Wave Silver Petunias

May

Finally warm temperatures are here to stay and you don’t have to worry about that frost! You may think it’s too late to grow all your favorite vegetables from seeds, but warm May temperatures have made the soil perfect for sowing seeds. Warm soil will allow for fast germination and growing plants! Good choices are summertime kitchen garden staples like squash, beans, cucumbers and melons.

Beans (Zones 3-10): You can plant both bush and pole beans now that the soil and air are warmed up as beans should not be started indoors. Try a continual 7-10 day sowing of different varieties. This will give you an abundance of bean crops and not one large harvest with wasted crop. Learn More: How to Grow Beans Suggested varieties: Scarlet Runner, Kentucky Wonder, Colorful Garden Blend

Beets (Zones 3-10): You still have time to sow beets now for a fast, yummy summer treat! To provide a continuous harvest, plant seeds in various locations with a three-week time difference. Learn More: How to Grow Beets Suggested Varieties: Detroit Dark Red, Bull’s Blood, Golden Detroit

Cabbage (Zones 3-10): May is the time to transplant cabbage for a summer harvest. Cabbage plants do better when planted near herbs like dill and rosemary. Learn More: How to Grow Cabbage Suggested varieties: White Stem, Golden Acre, Brunswick

Carrots (Zones 3-10): For a delicious fall crop, start carrots inside now so that they can be transplanted in mid-July. Try different colored varieties for making colorful stews and soups. Learn More: How to Grow Carrots Suggested varieties: Rainbow Mix, Dragon, Black Nebula

Corn (Zones 3-7): Now that the weather is warmer and soil is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, it is the perfect time to plant sweet corn for a delicious late summer to early fall harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Corn Suggested varieties: Peaches and Cream, Incredible, Butter and Sugar

Cucumbers (Zones 3-10): Cucumbers can be directly sowed or transplanted after three weeks. Cucumbers can take up a lot of space so be careful to pick a variety for the space you have in your garden. Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers Suggest varieties: Spacemaster 80, Boston Pickling, Sumter

Eggplants (Zones 3-10): When the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it is time to transplant your eggplants outside. Learn More: How to Grow Eggplant Suggested varieties: Black Beauty, Bride

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Anytime year-round is the perfect time to plant heat loving herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary and sage indoors or outdoors! Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Italian Basil, Greek Oregano, Bouquet Dill, Broadleaf Sage

Melons (Zones 3-10): Melons are great for hot, long summers and a staple for hot, long summer picnics and family fun! Learn More: How to Grow Melons Suggested varieties: Sugar Baby, Honeydew, Hales Best

Peppers (Zones 3-10): Fresh, crisp peppers are a garden favorite. Peppers take up little space and can produce high yields when planted close together. It’s not too late to plant as many different varieties as possible! They come small, big, hot, mild, and an array of different colors. Learn More: How to Grow Peppers Suggested varieties: Carolina Reaper, Rainbow Blend Bell, California Wonder, Hot and Happy Mix

Summer Squash (Zones 3-10): Sow summer squash now in May will lead to fresh squash and zucchini for July! Learn More: How to Grow Squash Suggested Varieties: Early Prolific Straightneck, Scallop Blend, Garden Spineless

Tomatoes (Zones 3-10): May is the time to transplant your tomatoes if you haven’t already. Make sure to transplant to an area that gets full sun. Learn More: How to Grow Tomatoes Suggested varieties: SunSugar, Rio Grande, Sweet Seedless, Red Pear

June

Most fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants should already be in the ground. Many vegetables will still grow and produce even more quickly from seed planted in early June when the soil is well warmed up and teeming with life depending on where you live.

Beans (Zones 3-8): Beans are great for a June planting in Zones 3-8. Beans are fast growing in warm soil will give you a crop in as little as 35 days with some varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Beans Suggested varieties: Harvester, French Garden, Midori Giant

Beets (Zones 3-6): Sow beets now in Zones 3-6 for a fast, mid-summer treat! Learn More: How to Grow Beets Suggested Varieties: Chioggia, Cylindra

Cabbage (Zones 3-7): Cabbage is one of the easier plants to grow in the garden. Make sure to select a variety that is right for your location (size and maturity length). Be sure to fertilize and water when cabbage heads begins to form. Learn More: How to Grow Cabbage Suggested varieties: Copenhagen Market, White Stem, Red Acre

Carrots (Zones 3-7): Planting carrots by mid-June in Zones 3-7 will yield a late summer crop that will keep in the garden until used. Learn More: How to Grow Carrots Suggested varieties: Parisian, Little Finger, Nantes

Corn (Zones 3-10): One of the most rewarding and fast growing crops to grow in the summer. Corn is delicious when cooked only minutes after being pulled off the stalk. Try a small plot of corn, working your way to a large field of several varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Corn Suggested variety: Buttergold, Sweet G90, Honey Select Sweet

Cucumbers (Zones 3-8): Fast growing vine or bush cucumber plants can produce an abundance of cucumber fruits. Be careful to pick a variety for the space you have in your garden. Vine cucumbers can be the best tasting but need far more space than bush varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers Suggest varieties: Spacemaster 80, Muncher, Marketmore 76

Herbs (Zones 3-10): All Zones can plant an herb garden indoors or outdoors, but now is the time to plant heat loving herbs like basil, oregano, thyme and sage. Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Italian Basil, Greek Oregano, Dill

Melons and Watermelons (Zones 3-8): Tasty melons make for a great treat on hot, long summers and a staple for summer picnics and family fun. Learn More: How to Grow Melons, How to Grow Watermelon Suggested variety: Honey Dew Stutz Supreme, Bush Sugar Baby Watermelon, All Sweet Watermelon

Peas (Zones 3-5): For Zones 3-5 and 6 depending on weather, green peas and sugar peas are good to plant in June, and will produce a great summer crop of fresh, crisp peas. Learn More: How to Grow Peas Suggested varieties: Sugar Snap, Green Arrow

Summer Squash (Zones 3-10): Summer squash sowing in June will lead to the perfect fresh squash and zucchini in July and August. Learn More: How to Grow Squash Suggested Varieties: Cocozelle, Waltham Butternut

July

Even in the July heat there are still some great crops that can be planted that will keep your garden pumping out vegetables well into the fall.

Beans (Zones 3-8): You can still plant both bush and pole beans since they love warm soil and air. Try a continual 7-10 day sowing of different varieties. This will give you continual bean crops for a fall harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Beans Suggested varieties: Blue Lake FM-1K Pole, Landreth Stringless, Strike

Brussels Sprouts (Zones 3-9): Brussels Sprouts have a long harvest and can be planted and transplanted in July. This fall crop can be enjoyed roasted, boiled or eaten raw in thin shavings. Learn More: How to Grow Brussels Sprouts Suggested varieties: Long Island, Gustus

Read more: How to Design a Potager Garden

Broccoli (Zones 3-6): For a delicious fall harvest, start broccoli now to produce a crop well into November. Learn More: How to Grow Broccoli Suggested varieties: Calabrese, Aspabroc Baby, Early Purple

Carrots (Zones 3-5): Starting carrots or planting for cooler zones by mid-July yields a fall crop that will keep in the garden until used. Learn More: How to Grow Carrots Suggested varieties: Little Finger, Culinary Blend, Nantes

Corn (Zones 3-5): Starting carrots or planting for cooler zones by mid-July yields a fall crop that will keep in the garden until used. Learn More: How to Grow Corn Suggested varieties: Bodacious, Sugar Buns, Early Golden Bantam

Cucumbers (Zones 3-8): Fast growing vine or bush cucumber plants can produce an abundance of cucumber fruits for a delicious early fall harvest.. Be careful to pick a variety for the space you have in your garden. Vine cucumbers can be the best tasting but need far more space than bush varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers Suggest varieties: Homemade Pickles, Double Yield, Sumter

Kale (Zones 3-9): Planting kale mid-July through mid-August will yield an excellent harvest in the fall and winter. Learn More: How to Grow Kale Suggested variety: Blue Curled Scotch, Premier

August

August is an ideal time to plant seeds for a second gardening season that can be as productive as your major early spring plantings. Late summer is perfect for a delicious fall vegetable and herb harvest.

Beans (Zones 3-8): Early August is the last practical sowing date for both bush and pole beans now that the soil and air are warmed up.

Learn More: How to Grow Beans

Cover Crops (Zones 3-10):

A great way to add nutrients to your soil for the following year is by growing fall/winter cover crops this fall. Start in August so they get some good growth before winter comes.

Cucumbers (Zones 3-9): Starting vine or bush cucumbers in August will lead to a delicious fall harvest. Vine cucumbers can be the best tasting but need far more space than bush varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Cucumbers Suggest varieties: Spacemaster 80, Muncher, Marketmore 76

Flowers (Zones 3-8): August is the perfect time to plant those flowers for a beautiful fall harvest. There are many varieties that can be planted this fall and start blooming early spring. Suggested varieties: Marigolds, Alyssum, Snapdragons

Kale (Zones 3-9): Planting kale now in mid-July through mid-August will yield an excellent harvest in the fall and winter. Learn More: How to Grow Kale Suggested varieties: Red Russian, Dwarf Siberian

Lettuce (Zones 3-8): Sow lettuce in August for a fall crop. Try growing early harvest varieties that will produce a harvest before cold weather rolls in. Learn More: How to Grow Lettuce Suggested varieties: All The Year Round, Mesclun Salad Mix, Spicy Salad Blend

Peas (Zones 3-7): Green peas and sugar peas are good to plant in August, and will produce a moderate fall harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Peas Suggested varieties: Tom Thumb, Cascadia, Wando

Radishes (Zones 3-9): Radishes are one of the fastes growing vegetables around and are easy to grow. Plant now and you can have them ready in 30 days! Learn More: How to Grow Radishes Suggested varieties: Watermelon Radish, Comet, Black Spanish Round

Spinach (Zones 3-8): Spinach is more of a cool weather vegetable and is great to grow in August for a tasty fall harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Spinach Suggested varieties: Red Kitten, Bloomsdale, Renegade

September

Although September marks the beginning of fall, there are still a few fast growing vegetables that can be planted this month and be harvested before the first frost in most gardening zones. Remember to keep your soil warm by removing all mulch and maybe try using a plastic sheet to trap heat into the soil. Try these vegetables below and you can still take advantage of your garden this fall.

Blueberries (Zones 3-10): Fall is the perfect time to plant delicious blueberry plants. Planting in the fall will allow for good root growth and early growth this coming spring. Learn More: How to Grow Blueberries Suggested varieties: Bluecrop, Blueray

Broccoli (Zones 5-9): If you live in a warmer zone and can find a quick growing Broccoli variety, you can plant now to harvest well into November. Learn More: How to Grow Broccoli Suggested varieties: Calabrese, Early Purple Sprouting

Flowers (Zones 3-10): September is a great time to plant those fall flower bulbs. There are many varieties that can be planted this fall and start blooming early spring. Suggested varieties: Asters, Calendulas, Cosmos

Garlic (Zones 3-10): Garlic is a vegetable that can be planted in the fall for a larger and earlier harvest this coming spring. Learn More: How to Grow Garlic Suggested varieties: Italian Red, California Early, Music

Lettuce (Zones 3-10): You can sow lettuce late summer for a fall crop. Be sure to grow fast maturing varieties. Learn More: How to Grow Lettuce Suggested Varieties: Gabriella, Romaine Trio Blend, Green Ice

Radishes (Zones 3-10): Radishes are a quick and easy vegetable to grow. Plant now and you can have them ready in 30 days! Learn More: How to Grow Radishes Suggested variety: Butter Globe, Sparkler, French Breakfast

Spinach (Zones 3-9): Spinach is more of a cool weather vegetable and is great to grow in September for a late fall/winter harvest. Learn More: How to Grow Spinach Suggested varieties: Bloomsdale, Olympia, Viroflay

October

October means that fall is here and many vegetables don’t have enough time to develop before your first frost. However, there are still a few fast crops that can be planted in October.

Flowers (Zones 5-10): October is a great time to plant those fall flowers. There are many varieties that can be planted this fall and start blooming early spring. Suggest varieties: Celosia, Asters, Dianthus

Garlic (Zones 5-10): Garlic is a vegetable that can be planted in the fall for a larger and earlier harvest this coming spring. Learn More: How to Grow Garlic Suggested varieties: Elephant, Spanish Roja, Inchelium Red

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are defiantly the most popular indoor plant to grow throughout the winter months. Try your hand at these 5 most popular herbs. Also check out the Urban Farmer Herb Kit Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Aroma 2 Basil, Standard Chive, Greek Oregano, Giant of Italy Parsley, French Thyme

November

Don’t be sad, you can still grow a lot of different plants inside in November. This is a great time of the year to clone some of your outside plants or grow them from seed indoors. Grow herbs on the windowsill!

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are defiantly the most popular indoor plant to grow throughout the winter months. Try your hand at an indoor herb garden with lots of varieties. Also check out the Farmer Herb Kits Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Genovese Basil, Common Cilantro, Italian Plain Parsley

Indoor Flowers (Zone 3-10): Growing flowers indoors can be a good way to pass the winter months. These beautiful flowers will brighten up your house and give off a nice aroma. Suggested varieties: Celosia, Impatiens

Sprouts (Zones 3-10):

Growing sprouts indoors is fun, quick and a great way to spruce up salads and sandwiches. It doesn’t take much effort but you still get the reward of growing your own food.

Vegetables (Zones 8-10): If you live in some warmer climates it is a perfect time to plant some vegetables. Try some of the cool weather vegetables that can survive now that the summer heat is over. Learn More: How to Grow Vegetables Suggested varieties: Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots

December

December means that it is time to start planning your garden wherever you live. You can also try growing some fresh herbs inside on your kitchen windowsill.

Herbs (Zones 3-10): Herbs are defiantly the most popular indoor plant to grow throughout the winter months. Try your hand at an indoor herb garden with a variety of herbs. Also check out the Urban Farmer Herb Kit Learn More: How to Grow Herbs Suggested varieties: Large Leaf Basil, Mammoth Long Island Dill, Creeping Thyme

Vegetables (Zones 8-10): If you live in some warmer climates it is a perfect time to plant vegetables. Try some of the cool weather vegetables that can survive now that the summer heat is over. Learn More: How to Grow Vegetables Suggest varieties: Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach, Broccoli

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

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