Skip to Content

Tips For Starting a Summer Garden – It’s Not Too Late To Plant These Things!

It’s Not Too Late, There are Many Things You Can Still Plant in a Summer Garden!

Tips For Starting a Summer Garden - It's Not Too Late To Plant!

The weather has finally warmed up with no chance of frost, and the sun shines gloriously every day. If you have had weather issues, or are a procrastinator, there are many plants that will still thrive even though the weather is settling into summer. There are some challenges to a late start summer garden, but nothing that should deter you from a good harvest. Honestly, almost everything but the coolest seasonal plants can still be grown.

Make sure your plants get enough water. Check them daily; if they are wilted, water them in the evening or early morning.  

Keep pests at bay.  Many garden insects are coming into their prime this time of year. Keep them picked off or eradicate by some other method.  Summer squash and zucchini can still be planted, but squash bugs will take over if you are not proactive.  Try these simple natural ways to prevent squash bugs.

Provide shade for young seedlings and starts. Use mulch, grass clippings or even newspaper to help reduce the sun’s exposure.

Keep weeds at bay. They seem to pop up overnight and can overrun your garden in just a few days.  

Flowers – All annuals can be planted; sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, hollyhocks can be planted at one month intervals to ensure color up until frost. Most annuals thrive on the summer sun, so take advantage of the long days to have some color in the garden!

This is a perfect time to start seeds and plants of perennials for next year’s garden. The plants will develop plenty of growth before the colder seasons set in, and you will be all set for next year’s color!  Try these fun DIY seed pots as a summer activity with the kids.  It is also the perfect time to start a compost pile for your fall or spring garden in a helpful composter.

Herbs – The same applies to herbs; plant a continuous supply of basil, cilantro and other annual herbs to maintain a supply until the hard frost hits. Perennials herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender can be started from cuttings now and can grow into healthy, beautiful plants by the fall.

Tips For Starting A Summer Garden

Vegetables – Plants like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers should already be in the ground; if not, look for started plants at the garden center.

The late spring and summer soil is warm, and most every other vegetable will grow quickly from seed. Plants like leaf lettuce, radishes, corn, and carrots should be planted at one month intervals so you maintain a continuous supply. Start cabbage inside for late season plantings.

Root vegetables, including carrots, beets, and radishes are still a good choice to plant. Beans, either to grow for fresh beans or dried beans, will grow fast in the warmer weather. Although spinach will bolt in the warm weather, swiss chard is a good alternative for warmer weather. Pumpkins, winter squash, and summer squash are great choices for planting. The only caveat is if you want to grow the huge squash or pumpkins – make sure you have enough frost free days for them to mature. If you don’t, choose a variety that matures a little sooner.

Edible Flowers – Many of the edible flower varieties are still good choices to plant. Nasturtiums, calendula, violas, and the like are pretty in the garden as well as edible in salads and as garnishes. Try a few plants and see!

Get the right shrubs. – The shrubs you use around your summer garden play a big role in how it looks. Pick the right ones for you. You’ve plenty of options to choose from, but these boxwood shrubs can be worth it.

This is an idea of what you can plant right now, but don’t forget that in another couple of months, it will be time to plant for the fall season. Most everything is still acceptable to plant, and you can still have a beautiful and bountiful garden.

100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC NON-GMO Culinary Herb Set - 12 popular Easy-to-Grow Herb Seeds by Zziggysgal100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC NON-GMO Culinary Herb Set – 12 popular Easy-to-Grow Herb Seeds by Zziggysgal15,000 Non GMO Heirloom Vegetable Seeds Survival Garden 32 Variety Pack15,000 Non GMO Heirloom Vegetable Seeds Survival Garden 32 Variety PackHeirloom Vegetable Garden Seed Collection - Assortment of 15 Non-GMO, Easy Grow, Gardening Seeds: Carrot, Onion, Tomato, Pea, MoreHeirloom Vegetable Garden Seed Collection – Assortment of 15 Non-GMO, Easy Grow, Gardening Seeds: Carrot, Onion, Tomato, Pea, MoreSquash Summer Scallop Early White DSVSQU119ER (White) 50 Heirloom Seeds by David's Garden SeedsSquash Summer Scallop Early White DSVSQU119ER (White) 50 Heirloom Seeds by David’s Garden SeedsZucchini Seeds - Black Beauty - Summer Squash - Heirloom - Liliana's GardenZucchini Seeds – Black Beauty – Summer Squash – Heirloom – Liliana’s GardenSquash Summer Sunburst D662 (Yellow Patty) 25 Hybrid Seeds by David's Garden SeedsSquash Summer Sunburst D662 (Yellow Patty) 25 Hybrid Seeds by David’s Garden SeedsSquash Seeds, Early Prolific Straight Neck Squash, Heirloom, Organic, 25+ SeedsSquash Seeds, Early Prolific Straight Neck Squash, Heirloom, Organic, 25+ SeedsPumpkin Dill's Atlantic Giant D602A (Orange) 15 Open Pollinated Seeds by David's Garden SeedsPumpkin Dill’s Atlantic Giant D602A (Orange) 15 Open Pollinated Seeds by David’s Garden SeedsJobe's 09526 Organic All Purpose Granular Fertilizer 4-Pound BagJobe’s 09526 Organic All Purpose Granular Fertilizer 4-Pound Bag10+ Dinnerplate Hibiscus/ Perennial Flower Seed/ Easy to Grow/ Huge 10-12 Inch Flowers/ Fairy Dust10+ Dinnerplate Hibiscus/ Perennial Flower Seed/ Easy to Grow/ Huge 10-12 Inch Flowers/ Fairy DustPackage of 30,000 Seeds, Perennial Wildflower Mixture (100% Pure Live Seed) Non-GMO Seeds by Seed NeedsPackage of 30,000 Seeds, Perennial Wildflower Mixture (100% Pure Live Seed) Non-GMO Seeds by Seed Needs1/2 Pound of Perennial/ Annual Wildflower Seeds Bulk From The Dirty Gardener1/2 Pound of Perennial/ Annual Wildflower Seeds Bulk From The Dirty GardenerToter 035564-R1CGR Wheeled Composter Kit with Attached Lid, 64-Gallon, Brown GraniteToter 035564-R1CGR Wheeled Composter Kit with Attached Lid, 64-Gallon, Brown GraniteDyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil Natural Leaf Polish, 8 ozDyna-Gro Pure Neem Oil Natural Leaf Polish, 8 oz

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Love gardening

Friday 5th of May 2017

Many thanks for your useful information. 

I have a problem about the growth of weed in spring and early summer. 

Could you give me some advice? 

 

Theda Smith

Friday 24th of June 2016

Thanks for this valuable post about gardening.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Family lifestyle blogger from
Tyler, TX
. For more information, check out my Media Kit and Disclosure.