As you’ve probably guessed, July is considered a hot season here in the sunny capital of Texas, which can make vegetable gardening a little difficult. Try to grow a plant that’s not tolerant of heat, and it will likely just shrivel up.
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Don’t despair. July is a great time to plant those quintessential summer crops: juicy watermelon that runs down your chin, corn to pop on the grill, and peppers that will bring the heat! (Not like we need any more…)
WHAT TO GROW IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN JULY
While gardeners in other parts of the country are vining their tomatoes up trellises, don’t give into that temptation. It’s too hot here for tomatoes to produce much fruit right now. Better to wait until closer to fall to plant tomatoes (or plant them in July but use a shade cloth to keep them cool) and stick to the hot season rockstars this month.
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If you already have indeterminate tomato plants in your garden from the spring, you can give them a good pruning if they look like they’re doing well. That way, they’ll be ready to start producing again in the fall. Otherwise, pull them out.
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Here’s our short list of some heat-loving plants to add to your Central Texas garden in July.
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Veggies
Black-Eyed Peas, Cantaloupe, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand
Spinach, Okra, Peppers, Pumpkin, Snake Beans, Summer & Winter Squash, Sweet
Potato Slips, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Watermelon
Herbs and Flowers
Basil, Bay Laurel, Catnip, Cumin, Gomphrena, Gaillardia, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Marigolds, Oregano, Petunias, Roselle, Rosemary, Sage, Sunflowers, Thyme, Vinca Cora, & Zinnias
Tips for Summer Gardening in Austin, Texas
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Remember to keep up with your consistent watering since most fruit and vegetable plants don’t do well when stressed with drought. Remember, watering deeply is just as important as watering regularly.
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Clean up any dead vegetation to keep pests at bay. We’ve seen some very hungry hornworms lurking!
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Harvest any and all veggies you can find! Crops are best enjoyed when picked in the early morning, before a plant is stressed from the heat. Get them before the birds do, and remember that most tomatoes can ripen on the counter even if mostly green.
For more tips on summer gardening, check out our complete post on keeping your plants cool in the heat.
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There you have it! Even as the scorching heat sets in, there’s still room for planting and growth!
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LETTUCE HELP YOU START YOUR AUSTIN VEGETABLE GARDEN
If you’re just getting started, it’s not too late to get your kitchen garden set up so you can enjoy lots of summer harvests!
At Lettuce Grow Something, we practice intensive planting, which promotes healthier soil and heavier yields. If you would enjoy more in-depth coaching about intensive planting and Texas seasons, CLICK HERE TO GROW WITH US and we’ll have you feeling like a pro gardener in no time. We offer consultations, one-on-one coaching, and full turnkey garden installations, building foundations for truly wonderful garden spaces.
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Happy summer gardening!
