Are you wondering what to plant in your garden this July? Well, stick around because I’m going to share with you what vegetables you can start, the projects I have going on, and a special tip that will help you get the most out of your garden.
We are definitely in the full swing of summer at this point. You know how I could tell? Because I can only spend 15 minutes at a time in the garden before the heat starts to overwhelm me, and I retreat into that nice cold AC. I’ve definitely been implementing my 15-minute garden and one-hour cool-down time to stay cool in the garden. That means I spend just 15 minutes doing a task outside, and then I cool down inside for an hour before I repeat that process over again.
Neglected Summer Garden Challenge:
If you are new to my posts, I have challenged my fellow gardeners to try doing a neglected summer garden this year. That means we have planted some veggies that love the Florida summer heat, and we let them fend for themselves this season to save us all from heatstroke. Let the rainfall water them, don’t fertilize, don’t treat for bugs. If you took on this challenge with me, don’t forget to tag #FloridaSummerGarden on your social media posts so I can see pictures of your garden.
Update on Summer Plants:
My garden is doing pretty well. Lots of things are growing, and I’ve even started to see some things getting close to production like my Thai Soldier beans and the okra. The things not really doing well are the warm-season crops like my tomatoes. I only have three plants alive right now—two red currant tomatoes in my raised bed and one tomato plant in a container.
Vegetables to Plant in July:
Now let’s talk about the veggies that love this weather, so you know what you can actually start planting this time of year. It’s a little limited, and some might be things you are not familiar with, but give them a shot. You might find some new things that you adore more than the grocery store veggies.
- Luffas (especially in North Florida, plant them right away so they are ready before winter arrives).
- Heat-tolerant beans like lima or butter beans and long beans like Thai Soldier beans or asparagus beans.
- Okra – a very heat-tolerant veggie.
- Sweet potatoes (last month for folks in North and Central Florida).
- Roselle (start as soon as possible for a good yield in fall).
- Tropical spinaches like Amaranth, Egyptian spinach, Magenta Sprean, Ethiopian kale, and Red Malabar spinach.
- Seminole pumpkins (may not bloom heavily during the summer).
- Pineapples (cut the tops of store-bought pineapples and plant them).
- Tropical root vegetables like ginger, turmeric, taro, cassava, and jicama.
- Chayote squash – a cool perennial squash, especially in South Florida.
- Cow peas (use dried Black Eyed Peas from the grocery store).
- Papaya (perennial in South Central and South Florida).
- Peanuts (plant raw, uncooked peanuts from the grocery store).
- Pigeon peas – a great summer veggie and an excellent cover crop.
Monthly Projects:
- Compost Rotation: Weekly rotation to speed up the breakdown process. Compost will be ready in about three months with our intense heat and high pest pressure.
- Summer Solstice Fruit Tree Trimming: Top cuts on fruit trees to manage yields and keep the tree small for easy harvest.
Special Tip – Hurricane Season Preparation:
Prepare for hurricane season by securing supports, reducing or removing the nursery area or small pots, and storing garden sculptures. Check your hurricane kit, and don’t forget to service your generator. Happy gardening!
