Vegetables to Sow in Summer

When gardening, many people like the idea of growing their own vegetables. There are a lot of vegetables to plant in summer, some of which can be ready for harvest within weeks for autumn consumption, and it is not necessary to have a greenhouse.

Carrots

One advantage of growing carrots after May is that they are less likely to be attacked by carrot flies. To enjoy a regular carrot yield, sow them in July and August, with ten days between plantings. They can then be picked young in the autumn.

Chard

Another vegetable for planting in summer is chard. If it is after August, this can still be sown, though it will need to be covered, and fleece is necessary for any attempts at overwintering it. The baby chard leaves can be harvested in a month or less and the plant can continue to yield greens throughout the autumn.

Coriander

Another plant that can offer constant harvests if planted at regular intervals, coriander is a vegetable to plant in summer, during August. Leaves may be picked after a few weeks, or later if the gardener wants to harvest seeds.

Oriental Greens

From the end of June right until summer’s close, oriental greens such as Chinese cabbage, pak choi and tatsoi. Mustard greens, which are more resilient than milder ones, are another option. They produce new leaves more easily in tough conditions and sowing them later can help to avoid a flea beetle attack.

Peas

Although some types of pea need to be sown in the autumn, ‘early’ types do well to be planted before the close of July. Meteor, Douce or Provence peas are all good for summer sowing. Peas should be placed to catch the sun and the soil needs to be warm and well drained for them to thrive.

Kale

Planting kale in the summer leaves young, baby leaves ready to be harvested and put into salads by autumn. Gardeners prepared to wait until April, though, should sow kale before August to create an overwintering plant.

Protect Your Vegetables

If summer-sown vegetables are being overwintered, they will need protection from frost. The cold can kill young plants or at least hinder their growth and development. Low temperatures may also cause the soil to freeze and stop plants from absorbing the water that they need. Plants can suffer cell damage if the water in their cell walls freezes.

Plants should not be sown in the lower parts of a garden, as this is the point to which cold air will descend – putting them somewhere sheltered will offer some protection.