Growing your vegetables is probably one of the most cost-efficient and healthiest things you can do at home. As you can now grow your plants when soil is present, it may be best to plant them during the summer season when the temperature is humid and bright and there is enough sunlight for them to thrive.
When you’re in Melbourne, you know the temperature is mostly hot during the summer season. When you want to plant something during such a period, you can potentially harvest good crops as sunlight generates a growth effect for the plants’ overall health. Now, if ever you’re wondering what’s the best plant to grow during hot weather, it might be best to pick a plant that can survive little maintenance; sunlight and a little sprinkle of water alone if possible.
Digging up trying to sow a good vegetable to plant? Try planting these instead:
Capsicum
Those green, peppery, and pungent vegetables can be your ultimate crop during summer in Melbourne. Capsicum germinates well when temperatures range between 14C to 25C; the average temperature in Melbourne during summer is 18C to 25C. Ideally, bell peppers can grow well when they have 4-5 hours of direct sunlight – and summer is the best time to do so. More so, soils tend to be rich and fertile during summer, and Capsicum will be at its best to harvest as fall approaches. Yet, it is a must to remember to plant them in dry areas, as water logging can affect how they grow, and they might even die from too much water.
Sweet Potatoes
Maybe you’re a fan of root crops such as sweet potatoes, and the dry and fertile soil at the start of summer is one of the best times to plant them. This vegetable (yes, it’s a vegetable), can withstand drought which makes it great to propagate and grow during the hot and dry summer. Moreover, direct sunlight makes the soil dry, and sweet potatoes love to be in an environment where water is less present. Thus, it is also recommended to plant them along sandy soil, where there is less water absorption. Plant them at the start or mid-summer season, and by the time vines surface above ground, pull them and you’ll be able to harvest a healthy and sweet crop.
Basil
A subset of vegetables, basil is one of the best herbs to plant during the hot weather conditions in Melbourne in summer. Basil can thrive well when it is exposed to direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours daily, and it can sprout and grow tasty leaves when doing so. You may plant them in your indoor or outdoor garden, and it just germinates and propagates well as long as the sun is present (direct or not). As temperatures can rise to 25C to 30C in summer in Melbourne, these herbs adapt well and will love how hot the climate is. Fun fact: it also repels mosquitoes away. Talk about being a good herb with additional benefits for you!
Lettuce
A good leaf for your green salad, lettuce is also another vegetable that can withstand the mid-heat of the summer temperature in Melbourne. These greens germinate well in dry yet cool areas like Melbourne, it flowers well, growing that sweet, mild, and crisp green that’ll surely be ready to munch on. This crop is nonetheless perfect for beginners, where it is easily sown by seed directly into the fertile soil. If, for instance, the weather gets to 35C, it might be best to plant them indoors where the hot weather can be eased out, but still can be exposed to indirect sunlight.
Onions
A common spice in our kitchens, onions can be sown at almost any time of the year (except when temperatures are lower than 10C). This crop does well in full sun and fertile soil, and summer is the perfect time to do so. You may plant them at the start of summer and harvest them in early fall when you will get a full bulb; plus scallions can also surface when it is fully grown. Nonetheless, this vegetable is low maintenance – just leave them as they should be and you’ll be able to see scallions sprouting; an indication that it can be harvested already.
Cauliflower
Ever wondered when to start planting cauliflower? The best time is to plant them in full sun, with the rich, moist, and well-drained soil of the summer. With temperatures getting subtropical in Melbourne, they produce a matte white flower and tend to sprout as autumn will approach. Hence, they do best when sown in mid to end of summer, and can be harvested from mid-fall until late fall. Water them lightly and make sure the soil is dry yet not too warm for better growth. However, they can be particular with temperatures; 15C to 20C is where they will thrive better.
Carrots
Do you love those crunchy, nutty, orange crops? Then start planting carrots in summer and you’ll be surprised how fast they will grow. This crop is perfect to grow in areas that are somehow cool yet sunny like Melbourne, yet it is also best to water them generously when temperatures rise to prevent a bitter taste when harvested. As the weather cools down in fall, the crop’s top will eventually surface a little; an indication that it has fully grown already. Nonetheless, plant them in mid to late summer, and they will eventually be fit to harvest early from mid-fall.
The sun during the summer season provides you with the perfect temperature to grow your crops. Perhaps, you need to start your indoor garden and produce your vegetables to be harvested right in your household’s vicinity. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of herbs and spices to grow; just make sure they can withstand the heat and yield in the fertile and rich soil of the summer season.
