By John Monzingo, Assistant County Agent
Prepare for Late Summer Gardening
The first day of summer—June 20—is quickly approaching, bringing with it the high temperatures of both day and night. For vegetable gardeners, this signals the winding down of spring crops, which may begin to produce less or stop altogether. While many gardeners take a break during this time, others see it as an opportunity to plant a late summer crop before transitioning into cool-season planting.
If you’re among the latter, here are some vegetables that thrive when planted in mid to late summer:
| Plants | Dates to plant | How to plant | Spacing | Harvest |
| Bell Peppers | 6/15-7/13 | transplant 1 inch deep | 12-18 inches | 60-80 days |
| Pumpkins | 6/15-7/10 | transplant 1 inch deep | 36-60 inches | 60-120 days |
| Peas | 7/1-7/31 | seed depth ½ inch deep | 4-6 inches | 70-80 days |
| Tomato | 7/1-8/10 | transplant 1 inch deep | 18-24 inches | 60-75 days |
| Greens | 7/15-10/31 | seed depth ½ inch deep | 3-6 inches | 40-50 days |
| Irish Potato | 7/15-9/1 | plant pieces 4 inches deep | 9-12 inches | 90-120 days |
Limited Space? No Problem!
If you don’t have room for a traditional in-ground garden, consider alternatives like raised beds, window boxes, or even 5-gallon buckets. Many warm-season crops, including those listed above, perform well in containers.
This list includes some of my personal favorites, but it’s far from exhaustive. For more vegetable options and variety recommendations, please contact John Monzingo at 318-927-3110 or 318-371-1371.
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