There are a wide variety of herbs & vegetables that can be planted and harvested during the summer months.
Once spring crops are harvested, the empty spaces in the garden can be planted again with herbs and vegetables that thrive in the summer heat. Planting a new round of drought tolerant crops will keep the garden productive into fall and provide a delicious bounty.
WHY PLANT A SUMMER GARDEN?
· Seeds planted in summer germinate quickly.
· Crops mature much faster than in the spring.
· A bountiful harvest happens in just a few weeks.
· Summer is the height of the growing season.
· The soil temperatures are consistently warm.
· Seeds can be sown directly into the garden.
· Many pests & diseases are gone for the season.
THE WILD CHILD ARLINGTON COMMUNITY GARDEN SUMMER PROJECT: Wild Child Herb Shop was fortunate to be included in the Arlington Community Garden this season and was able to acquire seven 4 x 8 x 12” raised beds for the project. These beds were full of spent plants and had not been maintained since spring. The dirt was depleted and filled less than ½ of each bed.
The process used to prepare the beds:
Recharge the existing soil by removing all plant material and tilling the bed.
Amend the existing soil with a high-quality potting mix. Miracle Gro Potting Mix was used for its excellent ingredients including 60-70% processed forest products, peat, coir, compost, sphagnum peat moss, perlite, fertilizer, and a wetting agent. Each bed was filled to 10” tall.
Plant organic and non-GMO seeds.
SUMMER PLANTINGS: BED 4: Winter Squash: 5 rows:
· Squash: Winter: Blue Hubbard: 8–20-pound fruit.
· Squash: Winter: Buttercup: Burgess: 3–5-pound fruit.
· Squash: Winter: Butternut: Waltham: 4–5-pound fruit.
· Squash: Winter: Honeynut: 4–7-pound fruit.
· Squash: Winter: Spaghetti: 4–8-pound fruit.
BED 5: Pumpkins: 4 rows:
· Pumpkin: Baby Pam: 2–4-pound fruit.
BED 25: Pumpkins: 4 rows:
· Pumpkin: Boer: Flat White: 20–30-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: CT. Field: 20-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: Jarrahdale: Blue: 6–10-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: Luxury Pie: 6-pound fruit.
BED 26: Pumpkins: 4 Rows:
· Pumpkin: Baby Pam: 2–4-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: Batwing: ½-1-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: Mellow Yellow: 12–16-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: Troll: 3-6-pound fruit.
BED 27: Beans: 4 Rows:
· Bean: Bush: Black Turtle: black bean fruit.
· Bean: Bush: Provider: green snap bean fruit.
· Bean: Bush: Purple Hull Pinkeye: black-eyed pea fruit.
BED 28: Root Vegetables: 6 Rows:
· Beet: Detroit Dark Red: 14” Tops.
· Carrot: Dolciva: 8” fruit.
BED 37: Pumpkins: 2 Rows: Okra: 1 Row:
· Okra: Clemson Spineless: 10 Plants.
· Pumpkin: Howden: 25-pound fruit.
· Pumpkin: Jack-O-Lantern: 10–18-pound fruit.
WHAT CAN I PLANT IN THE SUMMER GARDEN? Not all crops are ideal for replanting in the summer. Crops that have a long seed-to-maturity time, such as tomatoes, peppers, and sweet corn do not perform well with a second seeding.
Vegetables that can be planted in summer include amaranth, arugula, beets, bush beans, carrots, cucumbers, endive, red oakleaf lettuce, mustard greens, okra, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash, Swiss chard, turnips, and zucchini.
HERBS THAT CAN BE PLANTED IN SUMMER: herbs can be added to the summer garden as seeds or seedlings and can be planted in beds or containers. When choosing which herbs to plant, use varieties that have a maturity date before the local region’s first expected frost. For zone 8a, this date is 11/7/2024.
Herbs that can be planted in summer include basil, chives, coriander, dill, lemongrass, mint, oregano, rosemary, pineapple sage, and thyme.
Check out the recipe tab on my website and discover a wide variety of delicious ways to use herbs in culinary dishes.
Basil: Thai (Ocimum basilicum ‘Siam Queen’): this variety of basil has a warm and spicy flavor that pairs well with sweet and mild recipes, and it also makes a deliciously hydrating water infusion for hot summer days.
Use fresh Thai basil to make pesto, and serve it with mozzarella and tomatoes, caprese salad, and pizza.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): are a low-maintenance and high-yielding herb, and the bright purple blossoms add beauty to the garden while attracting pollinators.
To harvest chives, snip the leaves 1-2-inches above the soil.
Add fresh chives to summertime salads, compound butter, or potatoes.
Dill (Anethum graveolens): is an annual herb that re-seeds readily and will perform as a perennial in the warmer zones. It is a sun-loving herb that will elevate recipes with its pleasant aroma.
Dill grows to 2-3 feet in height and has lovely yellow flowers. To harvest, pick the leaves as the flowers open, and to save seeds for next year, wait until they are flat and brown.
An added benefit of dill is that it is a primary food for the swallowtail caterpillar, so it’s a great way to encourage pollinators into the garden.
Mint: (Mentha piperita): is very robust plant that can get out of hand in the garden. It is a very fragrant herb that adds a burst of fruity flavor to salads, cocktails, and a wide variety of tea recipes.
Peppermint tea soothes digestive disorders, abdominal pain, and stomach cramps, stimulates the appetite, reduces flatulence, & has a refreshing flavor.
The younger leaves are the most flavorful, so harvest as soon as they grow.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): requires only sunlight, good drainage, and ample air circulation to thrive.
Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds which help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. The aroma can improve concentration, performance, speed, and accuracy. Rosemary contains an ingredient called carnosic acid, which is protective against brain damage, improves recovery, and can slow brain aging.
Rosemary adds aromatic flavor to meats and vegetables, and it can be served as an herbal oil with freshly baked bread or as a garnish for charcuterie spreads.
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans): has the sweet taste of pineapple with the earthy flavor of sage, and it has Adaptogenic, antioxidant, anxiolytic, carminative, antimicrobial, diuretic, stimulant, and expectorant properties.
Pineapple sage is also a good source of vitamins A & K.
Pineapple Sage relieves anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and eases mental fatigue, stress, and depression.
Thyme: Lemon (Thymus citriodorus): loves the summer heat, is able to tolerate drought, and attracts pollinators to the garden with its fragrant blossoms.
Lemon thyme is an effective herbal tea ingredient that calms stomach problems and a sore throat. Use both the leaves and flowers to receive its full benefits.
Lemon thyme is easily dried, refrigerated, frozen, or preserved in oil or vinegar. The tiny leaves air-dry quickly and can be added to butter or mayonnaise, beans, meat stews, and strong vegetables such as cabbage. Lemon thyme is also great with any slowly cooked soup, stew, vegetable, meat, or sauce. Use lemon thyme in teas, on seafood, or in just about any dish calling for a lemony zing.
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