Grow heat-loving vegetables this summer
A
s temperatures increase throughout
the summer gardening season,
gardeners may consider growing plants
that can tolerate, or even thrive, in
high temperatures. In most regions
of West Virginia, the period from
August through early October provides
sufficient time and heat to grow many
heat-tolerant plants.
Greens
Herbs, such as basil, are heat-loving
herbs that can also be established in late
summer from transplants and harvested
before frost.
Legumes
Lima beans and Romano beans are
extremely productive in warm weather;
however, in most
regions of West
Virginia, August
is too late to plant
lima beans.
Malabar spinach is a
new salad green that
is being grown by
Romano beans, or
some West Virginia
flat podded beans,
gardeners. The spinach
can be seeded in
can be green- or redearly August for
stemmed and thrives
harvest in October
in high temperature.
before frost. If row
Batavian lettuce does not get tip burn
Although it is not
covers are used,
or bolt in hot weather.
a true spinach, it
Romano beans
produces dark green
can be protected from light frost and
and succulent leaves like spinach.
harvested in October. With Romano
The vegetable is very high in both
beans, the pods are edible and do not
vitamins A and C.
get tough in hot weather.
New Zealand spinach is a warmOther heat-loving vegetables
season substitute for spinach. Often
Okra, eggplants and melons are
referred to as perennial spinach, it
other heat-loving vegetables that can
produces tender leaves in late summer.
be established before August. Okra
Senposai is a cross between cabbage
should be continually harvested while
and komatsuna, which is an Asian green
the pods are smaller than 4 inches.
mustard. Senposai produces a large plant
Eggplants can be grown on black plastic
with leaves similar to collard greens.
mulch to increase the soil temperature.
The texture is very similar to cabbage,
The plants should be staked when they
and it is an excellent cooking green.
reach about 18 inches tall.
Batavian lettuce, such as ‘Sierra’ and
Melons should be grown on black
Nevada,’ are excellent heat-tolerant
plastic mulch and harvested by the end
lettuce varieties for late summer and
of September. These popular vegetables
early fall. These heading bibb lettuces
will continue to bear until frost
do not get tip burn or bolt in hot
providing nutritious, fresh vegetables
weather.
for the home garden.
‘Toscano’ or Tuscan kale tolerates
For more information, contact WVU
warm weather better than most other
Extension Specialist Lewis Jett (Lewis.
kale varieties. While most kale varieties
[email protected]; 304-293-2634).
have a strong flavor and flower in warm
weather, Tuscan kale stays tender and
By Lewis Jett, WVU Extension Specialist –
possesses excellent flavor.
Commercial Horticulture
Summer 2016
WVU Update
The West Virginia University
Extension Service and the WVU
Davis College of Agriculture,
Natural Resources, and Design are
pleased to offer this educational
insert to the Farm Bureau NEWS
as a service to West Virginians.
Check our websites for
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Greg Jacobs, Graphic Designer
Editorial Planning Committee:
Hannah Fincham, Joan Harman,
Lewis Jett, John Murray, Kevin
Shaffer, Ben Spong, Lindsay
Willey and Ronnie Helmondollar
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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative
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June 30, 1914, in cooperation with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Director, Cooperative Extension
Service, West Virginia University.
Trade or brand names used in this
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names does not imply endorsement
by the WVU Extension Service to the
exclusion of other products that may
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Pages 1 and 4 photo credits: www.flickr.
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AG16-253
Insert provided by WVU Extension Service and Davis College of Ag., Natural Resources, and Design
18 West Virginia Farm Bureau News