Summer Grow Guide – Plants To Grow In The Summer

Whether you are buying a greenhouse during the summer months or already have a greenhouse and wondering what to grow throughout the summer, we have the answers for you!

As day temperature rises and the weather gets warmer gardeners can begin to plant new plants that can’t survive in the harshness of the cold winter months. May / June is the perfect time to start cultivating the soil and making space for your new summer plants. Making sure that you plant your plants at a time where they can survive in your garden is vital to their growth, not only the cold but also strong wind can stress the roots and effect the growth of the plant. This is why, especially for a new plant, greenhouses and cold frames are the ideal growing environment to help minimise the plants exposure to harsh weather conditions.

What to plant / not to plant

For summer planting we are looking for plants that require longer days with both warm soil and high temperatures with some cooling at night, for its best growing conditions. Planting your plants now will give you confidence in having a summer harvest this year.

What not to plant

Plants that can’t tolerate the warmth of summer month shouldn’t be planted this season, these include

·         Cabbage

·         Broccoli

·         Lettuce

·         Spinach

·         Peas

What to plant

Plants that will thrive in warm weather conditions need to be planted now to get the best possible results. These include

·         Beans

These are very very easy to grow. They need to be grown in an area with a lot of sunlight and require a lot of watering due to the short roots. These should be picked every 3 weeks so that the plant can continuously promote new growth. 

·         Cucumber

These need to be grown in an area with a good amount of sunlight and require a generous amount of water. Once there are ready to be picked, make sure not to destroy the vines as they will continue produce.

·         Melon

These plants require warmth and a lot of sun, which makes them ideal for growing in a greenhouse. A generous amount of water should be given and fertiliser should be used in an interval of roughly once every week. When the plant starts to ripen reduce watering.

·         Pepper

Require a lot of sun and not much water. Once the plant is beginning to grow it should be fed with organic fertiliser for best results.

·         Corn

Requires a generous amount of room to be grown and relies on a breeze to help the pollination of the plant so it is best to be grown in the garden. Due to the very short roots of the corn plant they must be water generously on very regular intervals to help promote growth. 

·         Carrots

These should be grown out in the garden and love the warm weather. They should be watered heavily every 10 days. Carrots should be kept in weed-free soil so remember to weed regularly.

There are also a varied amount of herbs that can also be grown in the summer. They can be great to grow and can add something new to your home cooking ingredients. These summer herbs include

·         Basil

·         Chives

·         Dill

·         Fennel

·         Parsley

·         Sage

·         Thyme

Garden layout

In order to help the plants grow without impacting on the surrounding plants you should plant the tallest plants on the side of your garden facing north. Whilst leaving enough room for your tallest plants to grow, you should plant your next-tallest crops directly below and continue this process.

When using the greenhouse for your plants it’s good to keep bigger plants on the middle of your shelving and smaller plants on the top of the shelving. These can also be moved outside later in life to make space in the greenhouse. Plants that require a humid environment should be kept in the greenhouse for the entirety of its growth.