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10 Vegetables That Love Hot Summers – And How to Grow Them

Wondering which vegetables can take the heat during an Arizona summer? Keep reading for 10 vegetables that love hot summers – and how to grow them.

The key to successful gardening during the heat of summer is knowing what and when to plant. The climate in the low desert of Arizona and other hot areas will burn up many vegetables commonly thought of as summer vegetables. If you live in hot summer areas, it is essential to plant vegetables that love hot weather and thrive in hot summers

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them
Luffa blossoms

Here are my top choices for vegetables that love hot weather and provide harvests throughout the summer and fall.

Each of the heat-loving vegetables has a picture plus tips for when to plant and how to grow them. Click on the seed links to be taken to trusted sources for seeds. 


Vegetables that love hot summers: Armenian Cucumber

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant Armenian cucumbers:

  • Armenian cucumber grows well from seed or transplant. Seeds are available from Seeds Now

When to plant Armenian cucumbers: 

  • Late February – mid July in the low desert of Arizona.
  • Other areas plant when temperatures are consistently above 65 ℉, and 80℉ is even better.

Tips for growing Armenian cucumbers during hot weather.

  •  Although heat tolerant, they require even and consistent watering to prevent them from becoming bitter.
  • Do not overcrowd plants – crowded plants are more susceptible to pests and diseases such as powdery mildew and squash bugs.
  • Pick fruit early in the day and immerse in cold water to lengthen storage time.
Read this article for more information about how to grow Armenian cucumbers

10 Vegetables that love hot weather: Asparagus Beans

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant asparagus beans:

  • Asparagus beans do best when grown from seed. Seeds are available from Seeds Now. 

When to plant asparagus beans:

  • Mid-March – mid-July in the low desert of Arizona.
  • Other areas plant when the soil is at least 70℉, with daytime temperatures at or above 70℉ and nighttime temperatures above 50℉.  

Tips for growing asparagus beans during hot weather:

  • Bean production may seem slow as vines grow but will increase with vine size. 
  • Harvest beans often to encourage production.
  • Harvest beans with about the width of a pencil and 12-18 inches long for best taste. 
Read this article for more information about how to grow asparagus beans.

10 Vegetables that love hot summers: Basil

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant basil:

  • Basil grows best from seed or transplant. Seeds are available from Seeds Now

When to plant basil:

  • Late February – May in the low desert of Arizona.
  • In other areas, plant when when nighttime temperatures are above 70℉. 

Tips for growing basil during hot weather:

  • Don’t rush planting; basil prefers warm air and soil.
  • During hot weather and dry periods, water basil deeply and regularly. 
  • Mulching plants helps to preserve moisture.
  • Amend monthly with additional compost or organic fertilizer.
  • To encourage new growth, cut back flowers as they appear.
  • Leaves will be larger if grown in afternoon shade during the year’s hottest months. 
Read this article for more information about how to grow basil

10 Vegetables that love hot weather: Eggplant

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant eggplant:

  • Eggplant does best when planted outside from transplants. 
  • Start eggplant seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before planting or purchase transplants. Seeds are available at Seeds Now

When to plant eggplant:

  • March in the low desert of Arizona.
  • Other areas plant when the soil is at least 70℉, with daytime temperatures at or above 70℉ and nighttime temperatures above 50℉. 

Tips for growing eggplant during hot weather:

  • Eggplant does best with some afternoon shade in the year’s hottest months. 
  • A thick layer of mulch around plants helps retain moisture and cools the soil.
  • Do not let the soil get soggy. Plant where there is good drainage. 
  • Fruits may be smaller during the hottest times of the year.
Read this article for more information about how to grow eggplant. 


Plant Heat-Tolerant Cover Crops Instead Take the summer off!

In this article, learn more about using cover crops during summer to improve garden soil.


10 Vegetables that love hot summers: Luffa

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant luffa:

  • Luffa grows best from seed or transplant. Seeds are available from Seeds Now. 

When to plant luffa:

  • March – April and late August – mid-September in the low desert of Arizona.
  • Other areas plant when all danger of frost has passed.

Tips for growing luffa during hot weather:

  • Provide a trellis or arbor for the vigorous vines to climb.
  • Be patient when waiting for female blossoms to appear. 
  • Harvest young gourds to eat or leave on the vine to develop into a sponge. 
Read this article for more information about how to grow luffa.  

10 Vegetables that love hot weather: Malabar Spinach

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant Malabar spinach:

  • Plant from seeds, transplants or cuttings. Seeds are available from Burpee Seeds.

When to plant Malabar spinach:

  • March – May in the low desert of Arizona.
  • In other areas, plant when soil temperatures reach 65℉ – 85℉.
Tips for growing Malabar spinach during hot weather:
  • Malabar spinach does best with afternoon shade. 
  • Although Malabar spinach tolerates hot Arizona summers, it is a tropical plant and needs consistent moisture throughout the growing season. 
  • For best flavor, keep soil evenly moist. 
Read this article for more information about how to grow Malabar spinach

10 Vegetables that love hot weather: Okra

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant okra:

  • Okra does best when directly sown from seed in the ground. Seeds are available from Seeds Now

When to plant okra:

  • Mid-March – May in the low desert of Arizona. 
  • Other areas plant when soil temperatures are warm (80-95 ℉).

Tips for growing okra during hot weather:

  • Okra thrives in hot weather and needs full sun to produce well. 
  • Water okra to a depth of 8″-12″.
  • Mulch okra to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.
  • Harvest okra often (sometimes daily) to encourage production. 
This article shares more information about how to grow okra

10 Vegetables that love hot weather: Peppers

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant peppers:

  • Peppers do best when planted outside from transplants. 
  • Start pepper seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before planting or purchase transplants. Seeds are available from Seeds Now

When to plant peppers:

  • Late February – early March and again during July in the low desert of Arizona. 
  • Other areas, plant outdoors about two weeks after your last frost date. 
Tips for growing peppers during hot weather:
  • During the hottest times of the summer in Arizona, you may need to provide shade for pepper plants.
  • Small thinned walled peppers perform best during the hottest months of the year. 
  • A thick layer of mulch around plants helps retain moisture and cools the soil a bit for the growing peppers.
Read this article for more information about how to grow peppers

10 Vegetables that love hot climates: Roselle Hibiscus

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant roselle hibiscus:

When to plant roselle hibiscus:

  • Mid March-May in the low desert of Arizona.
  • In other areas, plant when soil temperatures reach 75℉ – 85℉.

Tips for growing roselle hibiscus during hot weather:

  • Plant roselle early in the season to ensure a large plant when the plant flowers as days get shorter in the fall. 
  • In the low desert of Arizona, the roselle plant begins to thrive when the more humid monsoon weather begins. 
  • Keep the soil evenly moist as roselle grows. Take care not to overwater as roselle can be affected by root rot if the soil is not well-draining.
Read this article for more information about how to grow roselle hibiscus


10 Vegetables that love hot weather: Sweet Potatoes

10 Vegetables that Love Hot Summers - And How to Grow Them

How to plant sweet potatoes:

When to plant sweet potatoes:

  • March – June in the low desert of Arizona.
  • In other areas, plant 2-3 weeks after the last spring frost, when the soil temperature is at least 65℉.

Tips for growing sweet potatoes during hot weather:

  • Sweet potatoes need a long warm growing season, are heat-tolerant and drought-resistant, and have few pests or diseases.
  • Fertilize once during the growing season and do not prune vines. 
  • Water deeply and regularly. Let the soil dry out somewhat between waterings.
Read this article for more information about how to grow sweet potatoes


For more information about gardening in hot-climate areas, read these blog posts:


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4 comments on "10 Vegetables That Love Hot Summers – And How to Grow Them"

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  1. Angela,

    Could you please provide some tips how long to run my drip for vegies garden at this time of heat. My drip tubing have emitters every six inches and can water at rate of about 0.5 gpm. So how many minutes should I run this setup. Thank you for your advice.
    Brian

    1. I wish there was one answer I could give you. Run your system long enough to wet the root zone of your plants to encourage the roots to grow deeply. Run the system and observe how long it takes to do this. Run the system for that amount of time each time you water. During the hottest times of year (especially when there is very low humidity) you may need to run the system every day. Water in the morning.

  2. Anglea,

    I am new to your site and wondering what I can plant on the north side of my house and the north side of my fence? Help appreciated, Freida