Gardening in the Heat
It must be July!
July in Central Ohio is typically considered the start of “peak harvest”- that time where everything in your garden is absolutely exploding, and you find yourself leaving grocery bags full of zucchini on your neighbor’s doorstep out of sheer desperation (sorry again, Carol, for the Great Zucchini Incident of 2018).
Leaves may look a little wilty. Some of your plants may be bolting (also known as “going to seed”- learn more here).
Heat waves don’t have to mean growing food grinds to a halt- here’s some of my top tips on gardening in hot weather:
1. Water Heavily in the Mornings:
Water heavily. If you’re worried about drowning the plant, let me assure you that, when the temps climb above 85 F, it’s pretty darn hard to damage them with water alone. Try to water in the mornings so that any wet foliage has the chance to dry during the daytime. Summer crops, like tomatoes and squash, are drama-queens about wet leaves, so water close to the roots if you can help it.
2. Transplant When it’s Overcast:
If you’re a little late to the game on planting, and just now getting those pepper, tomato, and cucumbers transplants in the ground, those babies are at higher risk of transplant shock because of these temps. Transplant on a day when the sun isn’t on full-blast and some clouds are covering the sky. While the plants may still suffer a bit from heat, cloud coverage will help prevent them from frying in the sun and reduce transplant shock.
Not sure what to plant, or when to plant it? Snag our super comprehensive, 15-page planting calendar here.
3. Water Seedlings Frequently:
If you insist on planting seeds, rather than transplants, check on them at least once a day. Like all living things, plants are most vulnerable during the first parts of their life, when they crack open their seed coats and their first little leaves poke through the soil. Established plants may be able to handle a bit of drought- teeny seedlings will fry and die in the sun if you don’t keep their soil moist.
4. Take Care of Yourself:
Heat stroke ain’t no joke (trust me, I know). Take frequent water breaks in the shade when gardening and try to garden earlier in the morning or later at night when it’ll be cooler. Bonus points if you go into full gardening-dork mode and get one of these neck things (not sponsored- I just love these).
5. Get Creative With Your Harvests:
Let’s face it, there’s only so much Zucchini bread you can take. Go beyond roasting and sautéing and dive out of your comfort zone with juicing, spiralizing, grilling, and frying. Who knows- you might just find out you love zucchini raw, like how I prepare it in my Raw Summer Harvest Salad.