Nothing represents summer better than a beautiful garden full of flowering plants and beautiful vegetables and fruits ready to harvest.

I bring you today to learn more about the plants that grow best in the heat of summer and some tips and tricks to ensure your garden is abundant with vegetables throughout the summer period.

You’ll also discover what to plant with each of your favorite summer vegetables to encourage growth and resist disease.

Discover below 18 vegetables to grow in summer:

• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• pumpkins
• access
• Beans
• Mizuna
• Sweet potatoes
• caupí
• Okra
• lettuce manoa
• Eggplant
• Amaranth
• malabar spinach
• Corn
• chalotes
• Watermelon
• Red fruits (strawberries, raspberries…)

1) Cucumbers

Cucumbers are prolific growers and perfect for enjoying straight from the plant, in salads, or as a marinade. Opt for traditional varieties or try varieties that are harder to find in stores. Cucumbers are robust and excellent, providing extra crunch thanks to their small size. Cucumbers can be trained to climb a trellis. Plant in rich soil in full sun in the spring and water regularly for crops throughout the summer. Corn is one of the best companion plants for cucumbers and beans and peas are also good for encouraging cucumbers to do well.

2) Tomatoes

What would a summer garden be without tomatoes? The two go hand in hand. Grow tomatoes for direct harvest and consumption in multiple ways. Steak tomatoes are perfect for slicing and enjoying when the weather is hot. While tomatoes like Roma are the best for roasts, sauces and soups. Tomatoes generally need a long growing season with lots of heat and full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Some patio and bush tomatoes have shorter growing seasons. As a general rule, it is best to plant tomatoes as soon as the weather is warm in the spring to ensure a bumper harvest in August. Tomatoes thrive when planted with marigolds, basil and chives,

3) peppers

Peppers can be grown alongside tomatoes and eggplants as they have similar growing requirements. They all prefer full sun, rich soil and consistent deep watering. To help keep peppers well watered, use a bubbler or control spray nozzle. Be sure to water close to soil level whenever possible to prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing on lower leaves. Grow patio varieties, mild or hot peppers to add to pizzas and sauces or for roasting. In addition to tomato and eggplant companion plants, peppers can be planted near carrots, radishes, squash, and members of the Allium family (such as onions and garlic).

4) Pumpkins

There are many varieties of pumpkin. They are all wonderful and zucchini is already a good option to start with. Try growing Cinderella pumpkins for eating and carving. To vary the traditional pumpkin dishes, try the breaded and fried flowers that everyone will like. They’re delicious! Pumpkins, like tomatoes, have a long growing season. Plant them in well-drained soil from seed or from scratch. Be sure to give them plenty of sun and constant deep watering. Regular harvesting will encourage continued flowering and fruiting. Squash grows well with cucumbers, corn and beans, among other plants.

5) Access

Sorrels are cold-hardy perennials that provide green leaves during the hottest days of summer. They look great growing and have a spicy, refreshing flavor that is perfect in salads and soups. Give them a place in the garden or in a container where they can return year after year. Place plantings strategically to make the most of their striking foliage. Sorrels have several companion plants near which they benefit, including strawberries, tomatoes, and cabbage.

6) Beans

Green beans, string beans, and bush beans are equally delicious because once they start producing fruit, there are always a few beans to pick almost every day. Consider rotating planting locations in the garden to reap the benefits of its nitrogen-fixing capabilities in the soil. Thanks to a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria, beans replenish the soil with nitrogen as they grow. And like cucumbers, they can grow very large, so space is usually not an issue. Plant from seeds sown directly into the garden or transplant from scratch once soil temperatures have warmed to at least 15°C. Most gardeners do not sow seeds indoors because bean plants are very susceptible to transplant shock. Plant in full sun in fertile soil. Beans have the advantage of being planted with broccoli, carrots and peas, among many other complementary plants.

7) The Mizuna

Heat-tolerant greens, like Mizuna, make summer salads easy. To maintain a bountiful harvest all summer long, plant new plants in succession every 3-5 weeks, depending on how much space you have in the garden. Combine Mizuna with brighter greens such as chard or sorrel to contrast colors and create beautiful potted arrangements. Water regularly and remember to give it a little more water on the hottest days of summer. Mizuna likes to be planted next to beans and beets.

8) potatoes

Sweet potatoes differ from regular potatoes in that they like warm weather and soil. These tropical plants are sensitive to cold and grow best when planted about a month after the last frost date. As long as the days and soil are warm, sweet potatoes are easy to grow and will quickly grow into lots of pretty vines that spread as far as you will allow. Plant in well-drained soil with compost mixed in. Sweet potatoes grow well alongside dill, thyme and parsnips. Don’t plant them near pumpkins, as both vines spread and can cause overcrowding.

9) Cowpeas (beans)

Cowpeas, like black-eyed peas and crowd beans, will not tolerate frost, so be sure to plant this crop in a warm climate at least 4 weeks after the last frost. Sow directly in the garden or start indoors about 6 weeks before transplanting. Plant in full sun or partial shade in well-drained, sandy, clay soil. Cowpeas, like other bean varieties, are excellent for helping to improve soil. Keep the soil moist and do not let it dry out. Watering at the base of the plants, rather than overhead, will protect the delicate flowers and small seed pods from falling over. It is not a good idea to plant black-eyed peas with certain plants such as onions or garlic, as they can stunt each other’s growth when grown together. However, they will pair well with strawberries and cucumbers.

10) Quimbombo

Okra is a plant that likes warm temperatures. Sow directly into the garden several weeks after the last frost. If you are transplanting seeds started indoors, be extremely careful with the seedlings as they have very delicate roots. Plant in full sun in rich soil and be sure to harvest regularly. Pick okra pods when they are 7 to 10 cm tall. Do not leave overripe pods on the plant or it will stop producing. When looking for companion plants for okra, consider melons, cucumbers, and eggplants.

11) Lettuce Manoah

Manoa lettuce is the perfect summer salad. Unlike most lettuce varieties, Manoa lettuce is known for its heat tolerance and love of tropical climates. It is small in size and can be used in place of any other type of lettuce. Very popular in Hawaii, where it is grown, it has a uniform, tight shape and is a type of “mini” lettuce. Plant Manoa lettuce in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny location and keep the soil moist. Manoa lettuce can be planted with corn and cucumbers.

12) Eggplant

Eggplant is a warm weather crop that is harvested in mid to late summer. Eggplants thrive at high temperatures, as do peppers or tomatoes. It needs well-drained soil and should not be planted until at least 3 weeks after the last frost. Although they love warmth, eggplant roots need to be moist and cool during the growing season, so be sure to add mulch to the soil to help the root systems retain as much moisture as possible. Eggplant goes well when served with amaranth, beans, peppers and spinach or thyme.

13) amaranth

Amaranth is a true summer crop that needs warm soil and plenty of sun to grow well. Related to beets, quinoa and chard, amaranth can be harvested for its grain or its nutritious leaves. Amaranth will adapt easily to most soil types, but really thrives in fertile, well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist and harvest as soon as you see birds showing interest and pecking at the plants. Plant amaranth with eggplant or corn to shade the soil and help retain water.

14) Malabar Spinach

Malabar spinach is unique in that it is not a true spinach, but rather a tropical vine variety that grows well in warm, well-drained soil and full to half sun. It will not survive any type of frost. Malabar spinach grows well on a trellis, fence or tower and is extremely easy to train. Harvest as needed for use in cooking. Malabar spinach has the flavor and texture of a cross between chard and regular spinach. It can be planted with beans and Egyptian spinach.

15) Corn

Corn is a little tricky to grow compared to other summer vegetables, but with the right knowledge and a little attention to the details of when and where to plant it, it can be a rewarding and delicious crop all season long. . Corn needs plenty of space and proper pollination to produce a successful crop. Plant in short rows about 30cm apart for the best chance of pollination. Water regularly, as corn is a shallow-rooted plant and does not tolerate dry soil. Grow corn with squash and beans for what is commonly known as the “three sisters” planting.

16) Chalotes

Shallots are easy to grow and can be planted in groups. Separate the bulbs from the set and plant them in late fall for early summer or early spring for a late summer harvest. Plant in full sun in loose, fertile, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil. Harvest shallots once the stems begin to droop and the bulbs have split into several bulbs. Companion plants that enhance shallot growth include cabbage, beets, and tomatoes.

17) Melons

Melons provide a bountiful harvest all summer long. Melons are one of the most popular varieties because they are easy to grow and mature incredibly quickly. Melons do best when planted in well-drained, sandy soil. They should be planted in full sun and the soil should be kept moist between waterings. As they are very sensitive to drought, they need a lot of water until they begin to bear fruit. There are many different companion plants that will protect melons, including sunflowers and marigolds.

18) Berries

Berries such as raspberries, currants, blackberries or strawberries are not vegetables, but they are easy to grow and wonderful to add to salads or as a snack for a summer snack or sweet dessert. There are a host of new varieties designed to thrive in containers, making the berries easy to care for and perfect for container gardens. Look for varieties to plant on balconies and terraces. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. There are excellent companion plants for berries, but not all varieties pair well with the same companion plants. Strawberries, for example, go well with lettuce, spinach and thyme, while raspberries will benefit from being planted with garlic,

Having a successful summer garden can be as rewarding as it is tasty. Knowing what to plant, when, where, and next to is all you need to learn how to have a thriving garden to enjoy all summer long!

Feel free to share your tips to have a prolific and continuous harvest during the increasingly hot summers.