Summer heat can pose a significant challenge to your garden, often leading to wilting plants and reduced yields.
With global warming intensifying heatwaves, gardeners face even greater difficulties in maintaining plant health.
But don’t worry, only by incorporating following heat-tolerant varieties into your garden, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest.
#1. Kale
Kale is a resilient leafy green, not only is it packed with nutrients, but it’s also versatile for salads, smoothies, and chips.
Kale actually sweetens after a light frost but can handle hot weather with proper watering and a bit of shade.
Kale takes 55 to 75 days from seed to harvest, ensuring a steady supply of fresh greens all season long.
#2. Mustard Greens
Mustard greens thrive in the heat and add a spicy kick to salads and stir-fries. They’re a healthy choice due to packing nutrients.
These greens can endure scorching sun without wilting, making them ideal for hot climates.
Just after 30-40 days, you can pick the outer leaves as they mature, and the plant will continue to produce fresh greens.
#3. Eggplant
Eggplants require full sun and fertile soil, along with about an inch of water per week to flourish.
With varieties like ‘Blackbell Classic’ and ‘Midnight,’ eggplants excel in hot weather, producing large, delicious fruits.
You should harvest eggplants before they reach full maturity for the best flavor. They usually take about 70-85 days from transplanting.
#4. Radishes
Radishes come in colors from red to purple and gold with crisp, spicy flavor. They thrive in sunny spots with well-drained, rich soil.
You plant seeds half an inch deep and an inch apart, then thin them to two inches once they sprout.
Just keep the soil moist and watch for weeds and pests. you can harvest after 3-4 weeks with a delicious, fresh taste.
#5. Amaranth
Amaranth grows with minimal water and flourishes in full sunlight, making it ideal for hot weather.
Amaranth’s tall, colorful plumes add visual appeal and its nutrient-packed leaves and seeds offer culinary versatility.
Harvest leaves when the plant reaches about a foot tall, and wait 90-120 days for seeds, picking them once flowers fade and seeds harden.
#6. Swiss Chard
I planted swiss chards in a raised bed, and its vibrant stalks in red, yellow, and white brighten up the garden.
It’s an easy plant to grow, even for beginners, and doesn’t bolt quickly like other greens in high temperatures.
To keep it thriving, ensure the soil stays moist and provide shade during peak heat.
You can harvest the outer leaves when they reach 6-8 inches long, and the plant will keep producing more.
#7. Tomatoes
While tomatoes thrive in temperatures between 70 to 80°F, excessive heat can reduce blossom production, leading to fewer tomatoes.
So, choose heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Yellow Pear,’ ‘Homestead,’ ‘San Marzano,’ and ‘Black Krim,’ which can handle high temperatures and still yield delicious fruit.
Tomatoes typically ripen 60 to 85 days after planting; they’re ready when they’re richly colored and slightly soft.
#8. Cucumbers
Cucumbers thrive best in temperatures between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Varieties like ‘Sweet Success’ and ‘Straight Eight’ are ideal for fresh slices, while ‘Eureka’ and ‘Boston Pickling’ are great for pickles.
These veggies mature quickly, ready for harvest in about 50 to 70 days.
In extremely hot climates, provide some shade and monitor for pests like cucumber beetles and aphids to keep your plants healthy.
#9. Corn
Corn thrives in the heat with plenty of sun. You should plant it in a sunny spot and ensure it gets ample water and nutrients, using compost or balanced fertilizer.
Besides, you plant corn in blocks rather than rows to improve pollination, which is vital for full, juicy ears.
Corn typically matures in 60-100 days. Harvest when the silks turn brown and kernels are plump and milky.
#10. Squash
Squash varieties like zucchini and yellow squash are easy to grow and prefer full sun and well-drained, fertile soil.
You only need to plant seeds an inch deep after the last frost and water regularly. Also, watch for pests and use mulch to retain moisture.
After about 100 days, you can harvest young squash, about 6-8 inches long.
#11. Sweet Potatoes
Plant sweet potato slips when soil temperatures reach 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re ready to harvest in about six weeks, ideal for pies or fries.
The ‘Centennial’ variety is great for hot weather, while ‘Vardaman’ is a compact option for smaller gardens.
For limited space, you can consider container gardening.
#12. Okra
Okra is a Southern favorite that thrives in hot weather, thanks to its tropical African origins.
Among my top picks are ‘Clemson Spineless,’ ideal for eating raw, and ‘Alabama Red,’ known for its delicious fried pods.
‘Red Burgundy’ is another great choice, but harvest it under 6 inches for the best flavor.
Additionally, the heirloom ‘Cowhorn’ remains tender up to 10 inches, making it perfect for pickling.
