Mid-season ideas

[ness]

I do a small vegetable garden each year and am hoping to get some fresh ideas for things to plant after the spring lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc. are done. We love those things, and want to do them each fall too, so I'd like to put something in that mid-summer timeframe. I already plan to do bush beans. I'm thinking about possibly carrots or maybe beets, but not quite sure how they'd do here in zone 6. Any ideas for me?

[Paulf]

Cucumbers grown on a trellis or bush cucumbers do well in a small garden. Although I like large tomatoes, a couple of cherry tomatoes or even dwarf tomatoes will not take up much space especially if they are grown in a cage. Peppers, either hot or sweet, do well in small spaces. Those can be planted even in the same area as the early spring crops and will grow to maturity as the spring plants are finishing up. We do a lot of gardening in a raised bed container and all the plants get along well with each other. Our main garden is for large tomato plants and vine crops but the spring crops grow in a container. Cabbages are a thought, too. You are not too far south of us and all should grow well.

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[Seven Bends]

I do a small vegetable garden each year and am hoping to get some fresh ideas for things to plant after the spring lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc. are done. We love those things, and want to do them each fall too, so I'd like to put something in that mid-summer timeframe. I already plan to do bush beans. I'm thinking about possibly carrots or maybe beets, but not quite sure how they'd do here in zone 6. Any ideas for me?

I don't think beets and carrots will be a good solution for your midsummer slot. They are spring and fall crops in most parts of the world; they don't tolerate midsummer heat well, except in places where it doesn't get very hot.

What are you already growing in midsummer? Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, bush beans, pole beans, cowpeas, lima beans, summer squash (zucchini, yellow, patty pan, etc.), winter squash, pumpkins, melons, corn and sweet potatoes are the common midsummer vegetables. For greens, Swiss chard, New Zealand spinach, Malabar spinach and orach will grow in summer. Mexican sour gherkins might be fun for you if you're looking for something different.

[Seven Bends]

Cucumbers grown on a trellis or bush cucumbers do well in a small garden. Although I like large tomatoes, a couple of cherry tomatoes or even dwarf tomatoes will not take up much space especially if they are grown in a cage. Peppers, either hot or sweet, do well in small spaces. Those can be planted even in the same area as the early spring crops and will grow to maturity as the spring plants are finishing up. We do a lot of gardening in a raised bed container and all the plants get along well with each other. Our main garden is for large tomato plants and vine crops but the spring crops grow in a container. Cabbages are a thought, too. You are not too far south of us and all should grow well.

Excellent advice, except that I don't think cabbage or other cole crops will work for them in summer. Average July high temperature in Shawnee, Kansas is 91F. That's hotter than here in DC, and our cabbage shuts down by late May or early June.

[Paulf]

Cabbage could go into the garden with the early crops and grow along with the lettuces. There are cabbages that do well in heat. Like I said, Shawnee is not that much different than we are here in Ne and ours do quite well until late July. The enclosed photo was July but not sure of the date and the cabbage and beets and some of the spinach and lettuce was OK. Maybe worth a try?

[bower]

Summer squash is another thing that's pretty fast and likes the warm temperatures afaik - we plant those at the same time as bush beans, when we get the kind of year that is warm enough. Basil should grow well at those temperatures too.
Carrots are not a hot weather crop. Depending on the source, I've read that 75F or 86F is the upper limit for temperature, above which they probably get bitter. Beets probably like it a little cooler than that, too. Plant either of those in August for a fall crop with your lettuce.
Swiss chard will tolerate heat as well as cold, and basically produce all season.
They are the same species as beets, but they are more heat tolerant.

[ness]

I do a small vegetable garden each year and am hoping to get some fresh ideas for things to plant after the spring lettuce, spinach, radishes, etc. are done. We love those things, and want to do them each fall too, so I'd like to put something in that mid-summer timeframe. I already plan to do bush beans. I'm thinking about possibly carrots or maybe beets, but not quite sure how they'd do here in zone 6. Any ideas for me?

I don't think beets and carrots will be a good solution for your midsummer slot. They are spring and fall crops in most parts of the world; they don't tolerate midsummer heat well, except in places where it doesn't get very hot.

What are you already growing in midsummer? Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, cucumbers, bush beans, pole beans, cowpeas, lima beans, summer squash (zucchini, yellow, patty pan, etc.), winter squash, pumpkins, melons, corn and sweet potatoes are the common midsummer vegetables. For greens, Swiss chard, New Zealand spinach, Malabar spinach and orach will grow in summer. Mexican sour gherkins might be fun for you if you're looking for something different.

We're doing tomatoes, peppers, bush beans, chard already. Thanks for the ideas! There are several things on your list I haven't considered or grown before.

[GoDawgs]

Adding eggplant and okra to the list. Both okra and eggplant do well here in Georgia so they should be ok in your area. Georgia too.

[ness]

Cucumbers grown on a trellis or bush cucumbers do well in a small garden. Although I like large tomatoes, a couple of cherry tomatoes or even dwarf tomatoes will not take up much space especially if they are grown in a cage. Peppers, either hot or sweet, do well in small spaces. Those can be planted even in the same area as the early spring crops and will grow to maturity as the spring plants are finishing up. We do a lot of gardening in a raised bed container and all the plants get along well with each other. Our main garden is for large tomato plants and vine crops but the spring crops grow in a container. Cabbages are a thought, too. You are not too far south of us and all should grow well.

Nice looking container garden! Thanks for the suggestions.

I smiled when I saw Brownville, NE. A friend of mine from high school days was from Brownville. His family had the Belle of Brownville riverboat. I've lost track of Paul, but wish I new where he is and how he's doing.

[Tormahto]

Early bush Asian long beans over common bush beans, for starters.

[Tormahto]

Another thing to think about, if you haven't already, is transplants.

If plants can take the heat in small containers, start them early, and transplant them when it's time to pull the old stuff. A general rule of thumb for many, but certainly not all, veggies is sowing them about 3 weeks before transplant time.

[ness]

Thanks everyone. We’re adding eggplant and New Zealand spinach to the mix. We’ll do some more bush beans to fill the mid-summer gaps too.

It’s always lots of anticipation this time of year. The catalogues are piling up, I’m putting a plan together and reviewing notes from previous years. Met a couple folks recently that are gardeners too, so hoping to learn and share with them too.

[Tormahto]

Thanks everyone. We’re adding eggplant and New Zealand spinach to the mix. We’ll do some more bush beans to fill the mid-summer gaps too.

It’s always lots of anticipation this time of year. The catalogues are piling up, I’m putting a plan together and reviewing notes from previous years. Met a couple folks recently that are gardeners too, so hoping to learn and share with them too.

My experience with NZ spinach is that it takes a month just to germinate. If it's going to be a later season fill-in, you may want to sow in a container, 6 or 7 weeks before transplanting. If you have a smallish open space where you will eventually be pulling plants, you might be able to direct sow at least a month ahead of time.

PM me a mailing address, if you'd like to try the heat loving bush Asian long beans.

[ness]

Cabbage could go into the garden with the early crops and grow along with the lettuces. There are cabbages that do well in heat. Like I said, Shawnee is not that much different than we are here in Ne and ours do quite well until late July. The enclosed photo was July but not sure of the date and the cabbage and beets and some of the spinach and lettuce was OK. Maybe worth a try?

Paul -- I got your PM and replied, but it seems to be stuck in my outbox. I would be interested in contacting the family regarding my old friend Paul S.

[Paulf]

Cabbage could go into the garden with the early crops and grow along with the lettuces. There are cabbages that do well in heat. Like I said, Shawnee is not that much different than we are here in Ne and ours do quite well until late July. The enclosed photo was July but not sure of the date and the cabbage and beets and some of the spinach and lettuce was OK. Maybe worth a try?

Paul -- I got your PM and replied, but it seems to be stuck in my outbox. I would be interested in contacting the family regarding my old friend Paul S.

Got it and sent an answer in PM.

[ness]

Cabbage could go into the garden with the early crops and grow along with the lettuces. There are cabbages that do well in heat. Like I said, Shawnee is not that much different than we are here in Ne and ours do quite well until late July. The enclosed photo was July but not sure of the date and the cabbage and beets and some of the spinach and lettuce was OK. Maybe worth a try?

Paul -- I got your PM and replied, but it seems to be stuck in my outbox. I would be interested in contacting the family regarding my old friend Paul S.

Got it and sent an answer in PM.

Thanks!

Any thoughts by anybody about parsnips? I've seen them grown as annuals and biennials. Would it make sense to start some later and overwinter them?

[Tormahto]

Cabbage could go into the garden with the early crops and grow along with the lettuces. There are cabbages that do well in heat. Like I said, Shawnee is not that much different than we are here in Ne and ours do quite well until late July. The enclosed photo was July but not sure of the date and the cabbage and beets and some of the spinach and lettuce was OK. Maybe worth a try?

Paul -- I got your PM and replied, but it seems to be stuck in my outbox. I would be interested in contacting the family regarding my old friend Paul S.

Got it and sent an answer in PM.

Thanks!

Any thoughts by anybody about parsnips? I've seen them grown as annuals and biennials. Would it make sense to start some later and overwinter them?

To me, it would make perfect sense.

First, many people say that parsnips taste much better after a few frosts, and generally are dug just before the ground freezes.

Second, they are biennials. Sometimes commercial or traded seed will not germinate, as parsnips basically have one year of seed viability. Harvesting some to eat, and letting others go to seed the next season, for having good fresh seed to plant, would be the way to go. However, if you want parsnips every year, you have to have two sets of biennial plants of two consecutive years, and harvest two sets of seeds, to do so.

[karstopography]

As long as parsnips are being mentioned then salsify ought to be in the conversation also.

[Tormahto]

As long as parsnips are being mentioned then salsify ought to be in the conversation also.

Both are long season crops. But, I think parsnips grow best at a cooler temp.

[Seven Bends]

Any thoughts by anybody about parsnips? I've seen them grown as annuals and biennials. Would it make sense to start some later and overwinter them?

Parsnips prefer cooler weather, but probably you'll be able to grow them in your climate. I had success here in DC both times I grew them. I planted in mid-spring and harvested in fall. Probably you could plant your seeds after you pull your lettuce and other early spring crops, I'd guess no later than early/mid June. Your state extension service may have a planting date guide for your area.

If you're going to grow parsnips, be sure to google "phytophotodermatitis" and take it seriously. I ended up covered in severe, painful blister-burns that took weeks to heal and left discolored areas on my skin for a long time. It's easy to avoid the problem if you know about it, just be aware and be careful.