Vegetable Gardening in the Summer

If you're new to vegetable gardening, selecting which vegetables to grow in your summer garden can be overwhelming. What should you grow? Where should you plant your vegetables once you get them home? How do you keep your garden pest-free? And most importantly, when will your vegetables be ready to harvest?

There is no sense planting a vegetable you or your family doesn't enjoy just because everyone else is. If you don't like okra, don't plant it. If tomatoes are your favorite, grow an additional row. Have fun and remember you can always share your harvest with friends and neighbors, as well as your local food pantry, or sell your extra produce.

Any good vegetable gardener knows succession planting is where it's at. Succession planting is basically planting additional vegetables a couple of weeks apart for a continued harvest throughout the growing season.

Squash plants are fairly easy to grow, but they do need a lot of sunlight and well-drained soil for best results. Harvest times depend on what variety of winter squash you are growing but are generally 90-110 days from seed to harvest. If you live in an area with short summers, consider buying winter squash starts at your local nursery. Harvest winter squash before your first fall frost (in most areas this is mid- to late-October) and before the nighttime temperatures drop below 33 degrees. Leave at least 2" of the stem intact or the squash will rot in a matter of weeks.

Green beans taste significantly better fresh out of the garden than they do when you buy them from the grocery store. Snap beans are easy to grow, and will grow in average soil. This simple vegetable is so easy to grow that it's a staple in children's gardens. Depending on the variety, beans should be ready to harvest in 50-60 days.

Did you know a tomato is technically a fruit? Yep, it's true. Tomatoes can pretty much be planted anywhere that has good soil and once the soil temperatures reach at least 60 degrees. Depending on which variety you choose, tomatoes should be ready to harvest in 60-80 days from transplanting outside.

Corn is one of the most widely grown crops in the world and is a grain, not a vegetable. Corn is a staple food in most parts of the world and is fairly easy to grow if you have the room. Because there are so many varieties corn can be ready to harvest in as little as 60 days or as long as 100 days from seed to harvest.

Cucumbers prefer full sun and rich garden soil. Plant when outside temperatures reach at least 70 degrees for best results. Cucumbers spread like mad so if you are short on space, grow cucumbers on a trellis. Most cucumbers are ready 55-70 days after planting.

Zucchini is a summer squash and it can be extremely prolific. Plant zucchini outside in well drained soil when soil temperatures are above 60 degrees for best results. Frequent harvesting will encourage new growth. Zucchini is typical ready to harvest between 50-55 days after planting.

Eggplant requires a very warm climate and well drained soil to grow well so if your summers are mild, you'll want to skip growing this vegetable. BUT, if you are lucky to live in warm climate, go for it. Eggplants are gorgeous, and incredibly tasty and easy to grow. Eggplant is ready to harvest 70-75 days after planting when it's about 6" long and the skin is shiny.

Perfect for eating raw or hot off the grill, peppers range from mild to hot, depending on the variety you choose to grow. Peppers need a lot of sunshine to grow, so plant them in well-drained soil once the temperatures reach 70 degrees. Peppers are ready to harvest approximately 75 days after transplanting them into your garden.

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