“ALONG WITH SHADING,
S O IL
I S
AN
IM P O R T A N T
C O UNTERM EASURE
A GAI NST
S UM M ER
HOT
DAYS.”
Drought and Heat-
resistant Vegetables
• Bell Pepper: Plant a few
weeks after your final frost
date (around the end of May)
due to their fondness for high
temperatures and dislike of frost.
Bell pepper plants can be spaced one
per square foot and thrive in high temperatures
as long as they are watered appropriately.
• Sweet Potato: They have vining foliage above
ground with the tuber growing below and need
soil that is between 70-80˚F. Their fondness
for warm soil means they can be grown in
mid-summer. They are heat-resistant, if not
heat-loving, but aren’t as drought-resistant
as the other vegetables named. Fortunately,
they can be planted four plants to one square
foot, guaranteeing a productive harvest. Tip:
A healthy sweet potato plant likes to spread
quickly. Consider giving this plant its own
section or own garden bed.
• Watermelon: Watermelon is one of the larger
crops you can harvest in a raised garden.
They can be planted well after the last frost,
preferably when soil temperatures reach 70˚F
and above. Because of their size, only one
can be planted per two square feet. It’s their
deep-reaching roots and thick rind that makes
them perfect for hot summers. Deep roots suck
nutrients from deeper in the ground, where most
other vegetables can’t reach. They mature at
around 80 days and are ripe when knocking on
the melon produces a hollow sound.
• Asparagus: Asparagus are long-life plants,
capable of producing for years after maturing.
Like bell peppers, asparagus crowns (a one-year
developed asparagus root system) can be planted
one plant per square foot. Once their roots are
healthy and strong—developed best in sunlight
and a well-drained area—one asparagus plant
can produce for more than 10 years.
As we move from spring to summer, there are
changing conditions you should be aware of
and get ready to adapt to so you can enjoy
a successful summer garden. Know your
weather and do some research to see if a plant
is suitable for your climate. If sun becomes too
intense and you start to see adverse effects,
act. You can mitigate intense sun, heat, and
dryness by employing the tips above.
Maximum Yield
59