How to Beat the Heat in the Vegetable Garden
The summer temperatures are heating up and you’re left wondering: will my vegetable garden be okay? We’re glad you asked. With these simple tips, you’ll be breezing through gardening in hot weather. And we’ll even show you how an Eco Garden elevated garden bed is the perfect summer gardening solution.
Tip #1: Plan for the heat
If your growing season tends to be steamy, plant heat-loving vegetables. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil enjoy a bit more heat. You can use taller plants like tomatoes or corn to shade less heat-tolerant plants – check out the three sisters planting method. Be sure to plant the tallest plants on the north side of the garden.
Tip #2: Water Correctly
When gardening in hot weather, it’s best to water in the morning or in the early evening. If you water midday the water will mostly evaporate in the heat. Always keep your garden consistently watered so you don’t have to worry about it completely drying out – veggies don’t like going from wet to dry over and over, and it can cause them to crack. Always test the soil with your finger first to see if there is enough moisture. Worried gardeners see the leaves droop in the heat and overwater, which leads to root rot and plant disease. The leaves will return to normal when temperatures drop – the leaves droop because they are conserving water during the midday heat. If they don’t perk up by the next morning, it may be time to water.
Tip #4: Provide Shade
Shade cloth is a great way to protect vegetables when you’re in a mid-summer heatwave. You can purchase cloth and hoops or DIY; there is pre-made cloth in summer weight fabric which allows plants to breath and get enough sunlight without being scorched. See how we constructed a shade cloth solution for the Eco Garden Systems Original Garden.
Tip #5: Mulch
Adding mulch to exposed soil will help retain moisture. You don’t even have to purchase the pretty stuff; use old leaves, grass clippings, or straw instead.
Tip #6: Grow Your Veggies in This
An Eco Garden Systems Original Garden is the perfect heatwave solution. You can pretty much plant your vegetables and the garden will do the rest. And it completely eradicates the need to fret over Tip #2 above – consistent moisture is the key to gardening success in an Eco Garden. Here’s how the elevated garden bed saves your vegetables from too much heat:
- In-garden water reservoir: moisture is always present and allows for overplanting as plants no longer compete for moisture
- Air Gap technology: allows plant roots to thrive in a moisture-rich and oxygen-rich layer that leads to faster growth and better production
- 2x speed to maturity
- Up to 50% more production per plant due to ever present oxygen
- Patented perforated soil platform allows root systems to grow into the Air Gap and reservoir
- Integrated watering system with hoses and 10 sprinkler heads to maximize water coverage
- Just attach to a watering system and you are ready to go!
- Overflow control to funnel off excess rainwater and protect your plants from drowning
Enjoy summer gardening a whole lot more with an Eco Garden. The stress-free way to grow vegetables will allow to get out and enjoy family activities without worrying if the garden will hold up. And don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. If you’re going to be out in the garden when it’s hot out, wear protective clothing and a safe brand of sunscreen. Drinking a lot of water will also help – plants aren’t the only living things that need to stay hydrated.
Tell us: What do you do to beat the heat in the vegetable garden?
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