Gardening Fruits and Vegetables for Zone 8 in the Summer

A guide to gardening in the summer for Zone 8 region. Extreme heat, planting, harvesting, and everything in between. Focusing on gardening fruits and vegetables for the hotter months in the summer.

https://youtu.be/k8GDJFoGU_k

Can anything grow in 100F degree weather?

Not everything can grow in 100F weather. In general, there are several vegetables like eggplants, hot peppers, okra, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and sunflowers that can grow in 100F. However, be mindful that that there are factors that can affect your plants in extreme heat.

What factors of heat stress affect my plants when gardening in the summer?

When gardening in the summer, plants can begin to show signs of heat stress through wilting, rolling and cupping, dry leaf edges, flower dropping, fruit dropping, bolting, and sun scalding. 

Wilting

Wilting is one of the first signs of heat stress in plants. Leaves on your garden vegetables will start to curl, droop, or roll. There is no need to panic, this can be a plant’s way to communicate to you. If your plant is only wilting during the extreme heat of the day, when the sun is at its fullest, the plant can bounce back when the temperature cools again. 

Leaf Rolling and Cupping

If you notice a plant leaf rolling and cupping, the plant is trying to preserve its moisture by reducing the surface area that is exposed to the sun. With the surface area reduced, the pores of the leaves can retain more of the water within them. 

Dry Leaf Edges

Dry leaf edges are seen as a survival mechanism in extreme heat. Leaf edges my dry up and become brown and crispy when the plant is trying to retain water. This preserves the main portion of the leaf allowing the plant to still function and produce.

Flower Dropping or Fruit Dropping

An example of flower dropping or blossom dropping can be seen in tomatoes. When tomatoes are blossoming, and temperatures reach above 95F the flowers will drop to preserve the plant, therefore reducing your yield of tomato crop. If you notice your plants dropping their blossoms, they are reserving resources for a future crop. Typically, peppers, squash, and cucumbers can bounce back after a heat wave has passed. 

Bolting

Bolting is the premature flowering of plants. Lettuce is a prime example a vegetable that bolts when the weather gets to hot. Once a plant has bolted, it will go to seed and a harvest is unlikely. Sun scalding is different on various garden vegetables but appears as a discolored spot that can be blistered, dried, sunken, or watery. Damaged fruits or vegetables should be cut from the plant to preserve energy to the remaining crop. 

What fruits and vegetables can grow in Zone 8 during the Summer?

June – Early Summer

Direct Sow Seed Outside	Sow Seed Indoors	Plant from Transplant
Basil Beans (hard or bush varieties) Beets Borage Carrots Collards Dent Corn Herbs Hot Peppers Kohlrabi Leaf Lettuces Marigolds Nasturtiums Okra Parsley Parsnips Popping Corn Potatoes Radishes Southern peas Summer Spinach Sunflowers Sweet Corn See Chard Wildflowers	Bell Peppers Cucumber Eggplant Melons Pumpkin Summer Squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes (cherry or bush varieties)	Bell Peppers Eggplant Onions Tomatoes

July – Mid Summer

Direct Sow Seed Outside	Sow Seed Indoors	Plant From Transplant
Bush beans Cantaloupe Chard Cherry tomatoes  Corn Cucumber Okra Pumpkin Radish Sunflowers Watermelon Yellow squash Zucchini	Beets Cabbage Carrots Kale Turnips	Sweet potatoes

August – Late Summer

Direct Sow Seed Outside	Sow Seed Indoors	Plant From Transplant
Arugula Beets Bush beans Cabbage Carrots Chard Cherry tomatoes Chives Collards Corn Cucumber Kohlrabi Lettuce Mustard Okra Parsnips Pumpkin Radish Peas Summer spinach Summer squash Sunflowers Turnips Winter squash Zucchini	Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cauliflower Kale	Bell peppers Cabbage Celery Eggplants Hot peppers Tomatoes (cherry or bush)

Fruits and Vegetables that don’t do well over 100F

• Arugula
• Basil
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Herbs
• Kale
• Large variety tomatoes
• Lettuce

What are the key factors in keeping my plants alive in the summer?

There are several factors that go into keeping plants alive in the summer. In general, using shade, watering regularly, and monitoring pests will ensure your plants stay alive. 

How do I use shade in a summer garden?

Planting more delicate fruits and vegetables, like large tomatoes, bell peppers, brassicas, and herbs, in a spot that gets afternoon shade will help with heat stress in a summer garden. For most vegetable crops, using shade cloth in the absence of natural shade can help protect the leaves from becoming dry, and prevent blossom dropping. We like this 40% shade cloth from Amazon https://amzn.to/3K6uFcL.

When gardening in the summer, many plants love to have full sun to propagate their fruits and blossoms. However, eight hours of full sun can cause heat damage with rising temperatures in late summer. If using a potted garden, simply move the pots to a shadier spot during the 100F+ days

How often should I water my garden in the summer?

In hot summer months, it is best to water your garden two to three times a week. However, be sure to water deeply. Most plants need about one inch of water a week. A good way to judge if your garden has enough water is to check the soil. Having moist or damp soil helps vegetable crops to maintain their growing pattern. Be sure that the soil is not soaking wet.

Overwatering can also damage the plants when gardening in the summer. By placing your hands in the soil, you can feel how moist the dirt is. When the soil sticks to your hands, there is moisture in the soil. If the soil falls off and creates a sandier feel on your hands, the soil needs more water. For an example on how to tell if your soil is moist enough, check out this video about different ways to check the soil for moisture.

What do I use in my garden for summer pests?

Using neem oil, insecticidal soap, or your fingers, will remove pests from your summer garden. 

Scouting for pests will be sure to eliminate any damage to your summer garden that does not include heat damage. Be sure to inspect leaves and undersides of leaves for eggs and larva.

Typical pests in zone 8 that can be found when gardening in the summer are red spider mites, whitefly, moths, tomato worms, aphids, various slugs and snails among other bugs like mosquitos and wasps. 

Do I need to fertilize my plants in the summer?

When gardening in the summer you will need to apply fertilizer to your plants that are still producing, for example, vegetables and flowering plants. Do not apply fertilizers to plants that are more dormant in these months as they may create a shorter growing season in their peak time.

Should I use liquid or granular fertilizer on my summer garden?

In your summer garden, you can use either liquid or granular fertilizer, for a more budget friendly option granular is the best choice, for a more immediate result, liquid is the best choice. 

Using granular fertilizer on your garden provides a slow release of nutrients resulting in less frequent applications and longer-term plant health, however, it will not provide immediate relief to plants that are struggling. Granular fertilizer is spread into the soil and has a decent shelf life. 

Using liquid fertilizer on your garden provides an immediate release of nutrients to the plant allowing absorption and usage right away. However, liquid fertilizer will require more frequent applications to maintain growth and can cause an early growth surge if too much is given. Liquid fertilizer is sprayed onto the garden, and has a shorter shelf life. 

What is the best time of day to use fertilizer in my summer garden?

Fertilizing in the early morning hours or in the late evening hours is best in the summer heat, this will reduce “burning” the plants. Burning happens when the fertilizer draws out the excess moisture from the plant. This then causes the plant to yellow or brown and die. 

Water content on the plants during the cooler hours of the morning or evening will help the garden absorb more of the fertilizer and retain its water content. When gardening in the summer, if the fertilizer is applied during the sunny hours of the day, the plant will be overwhelmed with nutrients and the burning may occur.

Once a plant has been burned, you can remove the decaying foliage to try and save the plant. However, the plant will need time to recover, and may still die. 

What vegetables can I harvest in the summer?

June – Early Summer	July – Mid Summer	August – Late Summer
Asparagus Bell Pepper Blackberries Blueberries Broad Beans Broccoli Chard Cucumber Early Potatoes Herbs Hot Peppers Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushrooms Okra Onions Peaches Peas Radish Salad Onions Spinach Spring Cabbage Strawberries Summer Squash Tomatoes Turnips	Apples Beans Blueberries Carrots Cucumber Greens Herbs Hot Peppers Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushrooms Okra Onions Peaches Peas Potatoes Spinach Spring Beets Squash Tomatoes Turnips Zucchini	Apple Beans Bell Peppers Cabbage Carrots Corn Cucumber Greens Herbs Hot Peppers Kohlrabi Lettuce Melons Mushrooms Okra Peaches Peas Potatoes Squash Summer Squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Turnips