Growing vegetables in extreme heat can feel like an uphill battle—too much sun, scorching temperatures, and constant watering. I’ve lost my fair share of plants to the summer heat, but through some trial and error, I’ve figured out what works.
Some vegetables thrive in hot weather, while others need a little more TLC to survive. After experimenting with various summer crops, I’ve put together my top recommendations for the best vegetables to grow in hot climates, plus a few tips to help them along the way.
Ready to beat the heat and grow a successful garden? Let’s dive in.
Soil Preparation for Warm Climates
In warmer climates, moisture retention is key. Here are some quick tips to improve your soil:
- Water Crystals: These absorb water and release it slowly as the soil dries, perfect for containers or hanging plants.
- Organic Matter: Compost or well-rotted manure acts like a sponge, holding moisture and improving soil structure.
- Clay Additives: Adding bentonite or kaolin clay can help sandy or loamy soils retain more water, preventing them from drying out.
Tip: If you’re struggling with dry soil, bentonite clay is a solid choice for improving water retention over time, especially in raised beds.
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes thrive in the heat, making them ideal for warm climates. They’re heavy feeders, needing plenty of nutrients and about 30 cm (12 inches) of space between plants. I stake mine to save space, and their vertical growth helps with companion planting, which also keeps pests like aphids at bay.
In hot weather, I recommend trimming less. More foliage provides shade, protecting the fruit from sunscald. Unlike cooler climates, where trimming helps prevent fungal issues, hot, sunny conditions reduce this problem.
Tomatoes need a lot of water, especially in summer. I water mine every morning. While deep, infrequent watering is often suggested, in extreme heat, I’ve found that more frequent watering is key to keeping them alive and thriving.
2. Peppers/Chillies
Peppers, or chillies, thrive in sun and heat. While tomatoes can handle cooler temperatures, chillies struggle in lower temperatures and perform best in hot climates.
Bell peppers, or capsicums, are different. They prefer cooler temperatures, so in hot weather, I recommend shading them or planting in a spot with only morning sun.
As for chillies, the variety doesn’t matter much. Any chilli can handle extreme heat, so grow whichever you prefer.
3. Watermelon
Watermelon is one of my favourite summer crops. There’s something deeply satisfying about cutting open a homegrown watermelon and seeing the sweet, red inside. These low-maintenance plants have done well for me, but consistent moisture is key to prevent cracking and ensure sweetness.
If you’re growing watermelons in an urban setting, I recommend trellising them or planting away from fence lines. In my experience, rats love watermelons and will ruin the fruit before it’s ripe.
Watermelons take time to mature, so sowing seeds early is crucial for a summer harvest. They also need plenty of space—about 1 meter (3 ft) per plant, as they spread out and use up a lot of nutrients to produce those giant fruits.
4. Cucumber
We’ve grown a lot of cucumbers, and they can be tricky. While they love sun and heat, they burn easily in harsh light, so providing some shade is important. They’re also prone to fungal diseases, so I trellis them for better airflow, which helps reduce fungal problems.
When watering, avoid getting the leaves wet, as this can encourage fungus. Cucumbers need plenty of water to produce large fruit and stay healthy. Despite thriving in heat, they can shrivel and die without enough water.
Pick cucumbers while they’re still small, firm, and green. They’ll continue to mature off the vine, and harvesting regularly encourages more fruit production and keeps them tasting fresh.
5. Carrots
Carrots are often seen as cool-weather crops, but I’ve had great success growing them year-round, even in our hot summers where temperatures can exceed 40°C (104°F). Carrots are low-maintenance and their thin, spindly leaves offer some protection from the sun.
One benefit of growing carrots in summer is that pests like carrot root flies are less of a problem, as their breeding season typically occurs in winter. This allows for a continuous harvest throughout the year.
Carrots’ care requirements are largely the same in summer as in cooler seasons. One extra tip is using shade cloth over the bed to protect them from the sun and help retain soil moisture, preventing the roots from cracking.
If you want to learn more, I have a deep dive on growing perfect, big carrots.
6. Zucchini
Zucchini, much like cucumbers, is prone to fungal issues. To deal with this, I recommend trellising your zucchini plants and watering them at the base. This improves airflow and reduces fungal risk.
If you’re struggling with pollinators, hand-pollinating the flowers can help ensure fruit sets. For the best yields, harvest zucchini while they’re still young and tender to encourage more production and avoid overripe fruit.
7. Corn
We eat a lot of corn at home, and I find it one of the coolest crops to grow. Having your own cornfield in the backyard really gives you that farmer’s feeling. Despite the hot summers, I still manage to grow sweet corn without the need for a shade cloth.
The key to getting nice, full cobs is consistent moisture. Also, spacing is important for maximizing yield. For sweet corn, 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) between plants in rows 60-75 cm (24-30 inches) apart is ideal, but you can plant them a bit closer if needed.
If you live in a windy area like I do, you may find your corn getting blown over as it matures. To help keep it upright, try mounding the soil around the base—this encourages the roots to anchor deeper into the soil, providing more stability.
8. Beans (Green Beans, Snap Beans)
We cook a lot of stir-fries at home, and beans are perfect for warmer weather.
Whether you go for bush beans or pole beans, both can be trellised to save space and encourage vertical growth. Trellising keeps things neat, makes harvesting easier, and reduces fungal problems. In my experience, beans are more resistant to fungal issues than other crops. Beans will keep producing pods throughout the season, so it’s important to harvest regularly to keep them coming.
In summer, make sure to water beans consistently to support their rapid growth. They have shallow roots, so they dry out quickly. Frequent watering and heavy mulching are essential.
You’ll know snap beans are ready when the pods are 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) long, bright green, and tender. If they’re swollen or hard, they’re likely overripe. Leave a few to fully mature for easy seed collection. Store the seeds in a dry zip-lock bag for next season.
9. Eggplant
I don’t grow a lot of eggplants for eating, but their purple fruits are too cool not to have at least one in my summer garden. Eggplants love warm weather, so they thrive in hot climates. Like many of the plants on this list, trellising is key to keeping their fruits off the ground and ensuring good airflow, which helps prevent pests and diseases.
Water eggplants regularly, but avoid wetting the leaves. I also recommend providing some shade during the hottest part of the day—either by planting in a spot with morning sun or using shade cloths to protect them from sunburn.
If you’re not getting much fruit, it’s likely due to insufficient watering.
10. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes thrive in temperatures between 21-29°C (70-85°F) and need a frost-free period of 100-150 days. For optimal growth, they require loose, well-drained soil enriched with compost or manure. Choose sunny spots to plant them, ensuring they receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily to reduce disease risks.
If space is tight, they also do well in containers. Prepare the soil by removing rocks and debris, or consider raised beds for better drainage. Regular watering during dry spells and diligent weeding will help produce a bountiful harvest of these nutritious tubers.
Hot Weather Growing Tips
- Even sun-loving plants can benefit from shade during extremely hot weather. If you experience intense summers, consider using shade cloth to reduce heat and moisture stress.
- Mulching is crucial for maintaining soil moisture. Choose a mulch that provides thick coverage but breaks down easily, like straw or sugar cane, to avoid nutrient imbalances. I apply a thick layer to ensure good moisture retention.
- While common advice suggests watering infrequently and deeply, I’ve found that annuals, like vegetables, typically don’t have deep enough roots to handle this. In the hottest weather, daily watering is necessary to keep them healthy and hydrated.
Conclusion
Successfully growing vegetables in hot weather can be challenging, but by selecting heat-tolerant varieties, implementing smart gardening practices, and providing adequate moisture and shade, it’s possible to have a great harvest.
You may curse the sun as it turns your crops into crisps, but hot weather and warmer climates offer lots of advantages. Our fellow gardeners in colder climates would kill for such as a potential year round growing season, a wider variety of fruit and vegetables to grow and a great garden tan.
Give the plants on this list a go and see if you can’t get a great summer harvest.
