WHAT GROWS IN JUNE'S UNRELENTING HEAT?
Ok, so it's 95* here. I know the Western US has us beat by about 20*, but it's still hotter than the business end of a branding iron!
What will grow in this heat? It's amazing how many things will thrive in the heat and humidity of summer. I wish I had access to some produce items that are grown in the blistering deserts of the Middle East or in the tropical rainforests of South America. But for now, we are growing corn, okra,and basil. These three seed types were planted on the second week of a 6-week drought, so their start in life was severely set back. But once it started raining every day they finally took off!
I don't suggest letting your okra get this big unless you're saving it for seed (which I am). Large okra gets tough and hard strings form. They won't even get tender in a slow cooker! Try harvesting around 3" for a soft and nutritious addition to soups and stews.
Ahhhhh, basil! The fragrant smell wakes you up and makes you hungry! I love love love harvesting basil, second only to rosemary, for it's yummy smell that permeates my hands and clothes for the rest of the afternoon. Prune from the bottom like tomatoes and you'll keep disease at bay.
Isn't this beautiful! We grow for the beauty and the seeds for us to eat and to feed our livestock. The chickens, turkeys, quail, bunny, and pigs love the seeds and stalks. Bonus! they are just as pretty from the back...
So there's what we've got going on right now. Next month we prep for watermelons, squash, tomatoes, more herbs, root crops and more! Stay tuned friends🌻
Meet our newest addition to the Farm and Adventure Family! This little Spiny Swift came from a mama who hung out on our front porch. I haven't seen Miss Belle in awhile, hope she's ok, but we welcome her little one!
I hope we've earned you as a Follower! Please help our farm with an Upvote & Resteem if you would- MUCH OBLIGED!
Oops! Forgot to mention the corn. It really suffered and isnt doing all that great. I might get a few ears. Miss Bunny is going to be hoppy about that!! ;0)
What variety of corn are you growing?
I first started gardening in Texas so I can relate to the heat! My first summer we had 100 days straight over 100 degrees, whew! I had built a wicking bed garden and with a small shade cloth, my swiss chard thrived all summer! In the direct sun, okra, squash and peppers seem to love the heat. It's so hard to stay on top of harvest okra before it gets too big! Haha. Happy growing!
I finally figured out how to keep kale alive until the end of May, thanks to my lady bug friends! Okra is VERY hard to keep up with but in a good way. This is a sweet bantam corn from seeds of change. Thanks for reading!
Yay for our insect friends! I love seeds of change along with baker creek.
Hoping to go to Baker Creeks festival in spring of next year. Hard to travel though with hubbys illness. We'll see....
I've heard great things about that festival! One of these days, I'd love to make it out there as well. I also love Eden Brothers seed which is here near me in Asheville but they sell online too. Tons of great heirlooms!
Kinda warm in Florida too
That basil is beautiful! Following you, friend
Thank you! Basil is wonderful. Going to make stew tonight, i dont care how hot it is Lol
I'm glad to see you're getting some great stuff! Nothing's growing well here right now in our heat... ha.
I love growing sunflowers! Haven't been able to here (the ground squirrels eat the young plants - even at 10 inches tall!). My favorite variety for beauty are the Mexican sunflowers. I'd like to grow mammoth and other varieties to feel the animals as well.
Oh yes, the squirrels! I gave up on planting flower bulbs of any kind because of them Lol. I have a pecan tree to plant but my son's plan is to fatten them up and then turn them into dinner (didnt have the heart to tell him it will be about 15 yrs before pecans). Hope you're having a great Sunday!
Wow, very beautiful pictures indeed! I feel like plucking the okra and the basil leaves already 😁
Its so hard letting those okra dry on the plant! The basil was harvested this am ;0)
Good to know. But so sad 🙁 that I can't even have either the okra or the basils 😁
Im sorry! You can enjoy them vicariously through us then friend🌻
Awesome. Thank you
It's tough gardening in the heat. I hate it. Especially if it's not raining. I'm out there with the hose every morning when we get those hot dry spells. So far so good this year up here in PA. Just had 2" yesterday morning from remnants of Cindy.
Our drought caused us to over-water, which introduced powdery mildew to my squash. Im going to invest in ground-level irrigation soon.
I lay sprinkler hoses down in my beds and then cover it heavy with leaf mulch so the water stays in the ground and doesn't get the leaves wet. Or sometimes I just water with a wand but I usually don't get the leaves wet.
Ya, I have a tripod waterer so it got the leaves wet. I knew it was bad for them but thats all I had. This upcoming season will be different!
Beautiful! My garden is suffering from heat and rain making more weeds!
Are they edible weeds? If so, jackpot!
the chickweed in winter was welcomed but these summer weeds are not good edibles sadly...
I just love wild critters that decide to lighten up your life! We have two lizards living in the papaya trees we planted earlier this year!
Awww, they are your pest control team! That is awesome!
They are so amazing! Quite funny too!
You might check into Baker Creek Heirloom Seed company, if you haven't already. They have heirloom varieties from around the world. You may be able to find stuff you can grow yourself from the rainforests and Middle East.
I loooove Baker Creek! I need a bigger budget though Lol
Me too! I get almost all of my seeds from them.