Gardening in Hot Weather: Tips to Help Your Plants Thrive in a Heatwave

Summertime is the peak of the growing season, but if you're a gardener, it can also be a challenging time. When temperatures start to rise, your garden needs some extra care to stay healthy and thrive. The sun beats down mercilessly, and the temperatures can climb to triple digits. This kind of weather can be tough on both people and plants. These tips and tricks can help your plants to thrive in hot climates and heat waves.

Some plants love hot weather more than others. Even hot weather plants need some extra love in extreme heat conditions, but choosing the right varieties gives your plants a head start. 

• Zinnias
• Marigolds
• Cosmos
• Sunflowers
• Asters
• Echinacea
• Blanket Flower

• Okra
• Watermelon
• Peppers (especially hot peppers)
• Amaranth
• Corn
• Southern peas (cowpeas)
• Armenian cucumber
• Luffa
• Eggplant

Keep your plants well watered during heat waves and don’t let the soil dry out. It’s important to water early in the day during hot weather. Your plants will have more time to absorb the water before the sun (and temperatures) rise. Watering later in the day leads to evaporation, leaving your plants parched and wasting precious resources. Effective watering techniques can ensure your plants are getting enough water to stay hydrated.

Keeping your garden free of weeds is especially important in hot weather. Weeds compete for water and nutrients. Weeds are well adapted to thrive in poor conditions and have vigorous root systems. They’ll take over quickly, given the chance. We use our favorite weeding tools to get rid of weeds in our garden.

Mulching prevents water loss through evaporation and keeps the soil cooler. It also deters weeds, so keep your plants well-mulched, especially during the summer months. There are several types of mulch that work especially well in vegetable gardens. 

Interplanting works along the same principles as companion planting. By growing different plants together, they can benefit each other. Vining plants can shade the soil, keeping it cool and moist while suppressing competing weeds. Plants that need shielding from the heat can be grown underneath the canopy of taller plants with broader leaves for extra protection from the sun’s rays. Interplanting, also called intercropping, with the right companion plants can make a big difference. 

Trellises, umbrellas, shade netting, and strategic planting can provide shade for plants and prevent sunburn. If you live in a cooler climate and have an unexpected heat wave, shade cloth is also a great temporary solution to keep all of your plants cool and can lower temperatures by 10° F or more.