![]() ![]() Heat tolerant greens, like ‘Miz America’ Mizuna, make summer salads easy. Beans benefit from being planted with broccoli, carrots and peas, among numerous other companion plants. Most gardeners don’t start seeds indoors as bean plants are very sensitive to transplant shock. Plant from seed directly sowed in the garden or transplant from starts once soil temperature has warmed to at last 60 degrees. And just like cucumbers, they can grow up instead of out, so space generally isn’t an issue. ![]() Thanks to the symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria, beans replenish soil with nitrogen as they grow. Consider rotating planting locations in the garden so you can reap the benefits of their nitrogen fixing abilities in soil. ![]() Grow wax beans, purple podded beans like ‘Royal Burgundy’ and Borlotti beans for their fun red and white calico color. Pole beans, runner beans and bush beans are equally delightful because once they begin producing fruit, there are always a few beans (or a colander full) to pick nearly every day. Sorrels have multiple companion plants it benefits from being planted in close proximity to including strawberries, tomatoes and cabbage. Place plantings strategically to better enjoy their striking foliage. Give them a spot in the garden or in a container where they can come back year after year. They are gorgeous while growing and have a refreshing, tangy flavor that is perfect in salads and soups. Sorrels, like this French red veined variety known as ‘Raspberry Dressing’, are cold-hardy perennials offering greens throughout the hottest days of summer. Squash grows well with cucumbers, corn and beans, among a number of other plants. Harvesting regularly will encourage continued flowers and fruit. Be sure to give them plenty of sun and consistent deep watering using an elevated garden sprinkler or spray nozzle like the Thumb Control Watering Nozzle. Plant them in well-drained soil early from seeds or starts. They’re delicious! Squash, like tomatoes, have a long growing season. For a twist on the traditional squash dishes, try the crowd-pleasing breaded and fried flowers. Try growing Cinderella pumpkins for both eating and carving. Delicata, Crookneck, Cousa, Pattypans, Summer squash and Zucchini are all wonderful options to start with. There are a plethora of squash varieties. In addition to the tomato and eggplant companion plants, peppers can be planted close to carrots, radishes, squash and members of the Allium family (like onions and garlic). Grow patio varieties, sweet or hot peppers to add to pizzas and salsas or for roasting. Make sure to water near soil level whenever possible to prevent soil borne diseases from splashing on lower leaves. To help keep your peppers well-watered, use a bubbler or a Thumb Control Watering Nozzle. They all prefer full sun, rich soil and consistent deep watering. Peppers can be grown side-by-side with tomatoes as well as eggplants because they have similar growing requirements. Tomatoes thrive when planted with marigolds, basil and chives, among other companion plants. As a rule of thumb, it is best to plant tomatoes as soon as the weather warms in spring to ensure a bumper crop by August. Some patio and bush tomatoes have shorter growing seasons. Tomatoes generally need a long growing season with plenty of heat and full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day. While tomatoes like Romas and heirloom ‘Black Vernissage’ are best for roasting, sauces and soups. Beef steak tomatoes are perfect for slicing. Grow salad tomatoes like ‘Sun Gold’ and ‘Sweet 100’s’ for picking and eating. What would a summer garden be without tomatoes? The two go hand-in-hand. Corn is one of the ultimate companion plants for cucumbers, and beans and peas are also good to encourage your cucumbers to do well. Plant in rich soil in full sun in the spring and water regularly for summer-long harvests. Cucumbers can be trained to climb an a-frame trellis, while cucamelons will even climb an arbor. Both are hardy and adorable and pack extra crunch thanks to their tiny size. Cucamelons, which are actually a gherkin, are not true cucumbers but are grown as such. Persian cucumbers, lemon cucumbers and cucamelons are all wonderful. Look to traditional, burpless or varieties that are hard to find at the store. You will also find out what to plant with each of your summer favorites to encourage growth and resist disease.Ĭucumbers are prolific producers and perfect for eating straight off the vine, tossing in salads or pickling. Learn more about which plants do best in the heat of summer and get some tips and tricks on how to ensure your garden is bountiful. ![]() Nothing says “summer” quite like a flourishing garden full of blossoming plants ready for harvest. ![]()
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