Vegetable Gardening in Hot Climates

Those of us who garden in an effort to reduce pesticides in our diet attempt to garden year round. It is tough this year here in Florida where the heat index is already 110 F. All is not lost. Container gardening is a much more comfortable option for gardener and plant.

Many vegetables and herbs like the heat. Chili Peppers, Tomatoes, Basil, Yardlong Beans, Cucumbers, Okra, Pumpkins and Zucchini are just a few of the veggies to grow in the hottest months.

If you are growing in containers, here are a few tips to make your summer veggie garden successful:

Select compact or dwarf varieties.
Use extra large containers -- they retain more moisture and better insulate the roots of your plants.
Mulch
Place containers on a saucer of water.
Keep containers out of the rain -- at least in Florida. The alternating heat and afternoon showers create fungal issues and make irrigation a pain. I would rather use saucers of water so the plants can take up moisture as needed.
Place plants in a location that receives afternoon shade.
When placing plants, beware of surfaces that radiate heat. Plants on my concrete patio were completed wilted by the afternoon so I moved them over to the pool deck (painted concrete)-- no more wilting!
Barbara Barker,
Author, Container Gardening for Health: The 12 Most Important Fruits and Vegetables for Your Organic Garden