Your guide to a thriving veggie patch this summer

Ever wanted to grow your own vegetables? Despite the hot summer days ahead, there are plenty of vegetables that will thrive in your garden during the heat.

Here’s your guide to growing a simple vegetable garden in your backyard this season.

Luckily, the options for growing vegetables in the summertime are endless. In climates like Canberra’s, some of the best vegetables to plant in the heat include beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, English spinach, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, spring squash, swede, sweet corn, tomato, turnip and zucchini. Remember, planting times will vary for different vegetables so do your research before you get into the garden. For example, you should plant heading lettuce varieties in December and butterhead lettuce varieties in February. Essentially, the best way to decide what to plant is to choose vegetables that you like to eat, as you’re more likely to take care of them. And remember, be sure to harvest regularly to encourage your plants to continue cropping throughout the season.

To grow fresh, tasty vegetables, your veggie patch will need adequate water like any other plant or flower, so make sure you have access to a reliable water source throughout the entire season. Every garden will have different water requirements based on what vegetables you decide to grow, so make a roster of every plant’s watering needs to stay on top of it. While the temperature might be hot, be careful not to over water vegetables that are growing in shade as there may be insufficient sun to dry the ground. Also, try to not over water the leaves of plants that are susceptible to fungal diseases, such as tomatoes, zucchinis, pumpkins and cucumbers, but instead water the plant and roots directly. Installing an irrigation system is an option that will give you convenient access to water and will make tending to your garden easier, but be sure to abide by local government watering restrictions.

Just like a flower garden, your veggie patch needs regular care and maintenance. At least once a week check for weeds, dead plants, old leaves and any debris that is sitting on and around your vegetables and remove them as soon as they appear. Weeds will compete with your vegetables for food, water and sunlight, so be sure to tackle them when they are small and before they affect the growth and health of your crop.

The amount of sunlight your vegetables need during the day is an important factor when deciding where to put your plot. Some vegetables will need more sunlight, like tomatoes, whereas potatoes will need less sunlight. On average, most vegetables that produce fruits will need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. This includes capsicum, cucumber, eggplant, onion, pumpkin, sweetcorn, tomato and zucchini. Beans and peas also need full sun, but plant them early in the season as the sun in the latter months is too hot. Vegetables such as beetroot, carrot, parsnip, potato, radish and turnip grow best in partial sun – that is 3-6 hours of afternoon sun and then morning shade. Vegetables that prefer partial shade – that is 3-6 hours of morning sun and then afternoon shade – include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cress, globe artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, rocket, silverbeet and spinach. Before you plant anything in your garden, find out how much sunlight each plant needs as it will benefit your vegetables if those with similar sun requirements are planted close to each other. And don’t forget, on the hottest of days, your plants will benefit from some protection from direct sun and extreme temperatures, so have a shade cloth handy to provide some cover when required.

Soil quality is another important consideration for your veggie patch. Your plot needs good quality soil to retain nutrients and hold water long enough for vegetables to grow. If you already have healthy soil, you won’t have to do any preparation other than turn and aerate it. Loamy soil (a mix of fine and coarse particles) is ideal for growing plants. Sandy soils (mostly coarse particles) don’t hold water very well, and clay soils (very fine particles) hold water well but can become waterlogged without good drainage The basic rule of thumb for preparing your soil is to add organic matter to sandy soil to bring it together and add gypsum to clay soil to break it up. In summer, refresh your mulch regularly to keep soil cool, moist and protected from the elements. Over time, mulch will also turn into compost, which then adds to the quality of your soil. Additionally, well-composted soil is great for retaining water and will act like a sponge, keeping your plants moist through dry summer days. It’s also worth noting that a good organic fertiliser can be an effective way to enrich the soil with nutrients and help boost the growth of your veggies. Make sure you do your research before applying any type of fertiliser to your garden as it might be detrimental to other growing plants in your garden bed.