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Vegetables That Love Hot Summers: Top Ten Picks

By: Angela Judd | June 17, 2025

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

Gardening through an Arizona summer isn’t easy, but it is possible. You just have to grow the right things. Over the years, I’ve learned which vegetables can take the heat (and which ones can’t), and these are the ones I come back to year after year.

In this post, I’m sharing 10 hot summer vegetables and herbs that not only survive in high temperatures, but may also thrive. If you live in the low desert of Arizona or another hot climate, these are some of the best vegetables to plant in hot climates to keep your garden growing through the heat. I’ll also share my favorite varieties and tips to help each one succeed. Click on the seed links to be taken to trusted sources for seeds.

Not sure when and what to plant? My Vegetable & Herb Planting Guide includes planting dates for nearly 100 crops, and it’s the same one I use in my garden. You can also explore the Ultimate Plant Index for inspiration and growing tips, all in one place.

Let’s get planting.

Vegetables that love hot summers: Armenian Cucumber

Long, striped green cucumbers—vegetables that love hot summers—rest in a wooden basket outdoors, surrounded by garden plants and soil.

How to plant Armenian cucumbers:

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

When to plant Armenian cucumbers:

Plant seeds indoors: February – June
Plant seeds or transplants outside: March – July
Other areas plant when temperatures are consistently above 65°F, and 80°F 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 it in cold water to lengthen storage time.

Read this article for more information about how to grow Armenian cucumbers.

Vegetables that love hot weather: Asparagus Beans

Long green beans, one of the vegetables that love hot summers, hang from a vine with green leaves, growing on a wire trellis outdoors.

How to plant asparagus beans:

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

When to plant asparagus beans:

Plant seeds outside: March 15 – July
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 it 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 the best taste.

Other bean varieties that thrive in hot summers:

Read this article for more information about how to grow asparagus beans.

Vegetables that love hot summers: Basil

Close-up of lush green basil plants growing outdoors in a garden, one of the vegetables that love hot summers.

How to plant basil:

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

When to plant basil:

Plant seeds indoors: January – July
Plant seeds outside: February 15 – August
Plant transplants: March – August
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.

Vegetables that love hot weather: Eggplant

A hand holding two ripe eggplants—vegetables that love hot summers—still attached to the plant, with green leaves in the background.

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:

Plant seeds indoors: December – February and May – July
Plant transplants: March – April and July 15 – September
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.

Vegetables that love hot summers: Luffa

Several green luffa gourds, vegetables that love hot summers, hang from vines in a lush garden with leafy plants in the background.

How to plant luffa:

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

When to plant luffa:

Plant seeds indoors: January – March
Plant seeds and transplants outside: February 15 – April
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. Learn how to make scrubbers with loofah sponges in this guide.

Vegetables to plant in hot climates: Malabar Spinach

Green Malabar spinach vines, one of the vegetables that love hot summers, grow densely with thick, heart-shaped leaves and reddish-purple stems.

How to plant Malabar spinach:

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

When to plant Malabar spinach:

Plant seeds indoors: January – March
Plant seeds or transplants outside: March – May
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 the soil evenly moist.

Read this article for more information about how to grow Malabar spinach.

Vegetables that love hot weather: Okra

Close-up of green okra pods growing on a plant with sunlight shining through the leaves—an example of vegetables that love hot summers.

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:

Plant seeds indoors: February – May
Plant seeds or transplants outside: March 15 – June
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.

Vegetables that love hot weather: Peppers

Two green jalapeño peppers, vegetables that love hot summers, growing on a leafy plant supported by a metal garden cage.

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:

Plant seeds indoors: December – February and May – July
Plant transplants outside: February 15 – April and July 15 – September
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.

Vegetables to plant in hot climates: Roselle Hibiscus

Sunlight shines on green leaves and red hibiscus buds, with a pale yellow flower in focus—reminding us of vegetables that love hot summers, thriving in this warm, lush setting.

How to plant roselle hibiscus:

Plant from seed or transplant. Seeds are available from Renee’s Garden Seeds.

When to plant roselle hibiscus:

Plant seeds indoors: February – April
Plant seeds and transplants outside: March 15 – May
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.

Vegetables to plant in hot climates: Sweet Potatoes

Green sweet potato vines with heart-shaped leaves cover the ground, with a few lighter green leaves visible—perfect examples of vegetables that love hot summers.

How to plant sweet potatoes:

Sweet potatoes are grown from slips – small pieces of rooted sweet potato tubers grown from a sweet potato. Learn how to grow sweet potato slips in this article.

When to plant sweet potatoes:

Plant slips indoors: January – April
Plant slips outside: March – June
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.

Want more gardening tips for hot climates?

If you’re looking for more ideas for hot summer vegetables or simply want to learn how to keep your garden thriving when temperatures soar, here are a few more helpful blog posts to explore:

Whether you’re choosing vegetables to plant in hot climates, refreshing your beds with flowers, or giving your garden a seasonal rest, these posts are full of practical advice that works in real-life gardens.