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When you think about planting mid-summer vegetables in the garden – especially planting from seed – you might get a mental image of those early spring plantings just as your garden is getting started for the season. But just because we are now well into the warmer months of the year doesn’t mean you can’t still plant new crops from seed.
In fact, now is the perfect time to start planning and planting for your fall harvest. Here is a list of 10 mid-summer vegetables that you can plant from seed in the middle of the season, no matter where you live. These are great, cool-weather vegetables that should be ready just in time for fall.
Mid-Summer Vegetables
1. Beets
Brighten up your fall table with these sweet root vegetables. Beets come in a variety of colors ranging from deep purple-red to golden yellow. There is even a variety called Chioggia which has red and white stripes. Beets possess unique phytonutrients, called betalains, which relate to anti-inflammatory and detoxification properties. Mid-to-late summer is the ideal time for planting beets, and you can still harvest many varieties well beyond the last frost date.
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2. Broccoli
This healthy staple that your mother told you to eat is another good choice for a mid-summer planting. Broccoli is extremely high in vitamins. You can get 245 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin K. You can also receive 135 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C from this vegetable. While you’re likely to only ever find the florets at your local supermarket, the stems and leaves of this brassica plant are also edible.
3. Carrots
They are high in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which are both known to provide many benefits, including improved vision health. Carrots are an ideal vegetable to plant during the summer months. If you happen to be having a summer without much rain, ensure that you water your carrots well.
4. Cauliflower
A cousin to broccoli, cauliflower is one of the most popular mid-summer vegetables, which often produces large, white florets. However, recently we have seen a resurgence of other colors of cauliflower, including yellow, green, and purple.
5. Kale
Kale is a leafy, typically green vegetable that is rich in vitamins. In fact, one cup of cooked kale contains over 1000 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin K and nearly 100 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin A. It’s one of the healthiest and mid-summer vegetables around. The summer months are a great time to plant from seed because the cooler weather will help to improve kale’s flavor.
6. Kohlrabi
While it is one of the least popular vegetables among gardeners, kohlrabi is definitely worth growing. This vegetable looks similar to a green (or purple) turnip, except that instead of being a root vegetable, it grows on the stem of the plant. Kohlrabi is actually part of the cabbage family and boasts a mild flavor, which can best be described as somewhere between a turnip and a water chestnut.
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7. Lettuce
You may think of this green, leafy vegetable as something you’d plant in early spring. Notwithstanding, mid-summer is actually a great time to begin planting it again. There are a huge number of varieties available. These are divided into five main types: loose leaf, butterhead, bibb, romaine, and crisphead. So, choose an old favorite or pick a new kind that you’d like to try.
8. Radishes
Widely considered the easiest vegetable to grow, radishes thrive in cooler temperatures. By direct sowing them in mid-summer, you can have a bountiful fall harvest. In addition, since these root vegetables don’t take up a lot of room, they are ideal for planting between other crops and in those corners of your garden where nothing else will fit.
9. Scallions (Bunching Onions)
Mild tasting and easy to grow, scallions also can be planted during the warmer months. They’ll be ideal for adding to those fall soups and casseroles! Scallions are also a common ingredient in Asian dishes. While some people choose to discard the very dark green ends, the entire onion is edible.
10. Spinach
Spinach does extremely well when planted from seed. This is another vegetable whose flavor improves in the colder months. Some studies have shown that spinach leaves that are brighter and crisper contain more vitamin C than those that have started to pale in color. So, you can grow the vegetable yourself and eat it when it is at its freshest.
The months of July and August are a great time for gardening. Not only can you enjoy the crops that are maturing now, but also you can look forward to your fall harvest. Simply choose the appropriate cool-weather vegetables that you would like to enjoy with your family during the cooler months and get planting!
You may also enjoy reading an additional Off The Grid News article: 8 Perennial Vegetables You Only Need To Plant Once
