Hey everyone! I'm new to gardening and I'm in zone 7a. I built a 4x20 raised bed and planted some butterhead lettuce, romaine, curly kale, black kale, and savoy spinach this past Spring. I'm expecting that the heat will soon make them bolt or go to seed after harvest. Are there any leafy greens that can withstand summer heat that I can still plant? I've got areas with both full sun and partial shade, and I'm really hoping to enjoy some fresh salads this summer! Thanks for your help!
3 Answers
Swiss chard is a great option! It might not be your typical salad green, but it usually does just fine in the summer heat.
Definitely check out heat-tolerant varieties! Malabar spinach is a fantastic choice too; it’s not a true spinach but it makes for a great edible vining plant. You might also want to use shade cloth if you’re worried about the intense sun. Happy gardening!
Awesome, I was thinking about trying Malabar spinach! How does it taste compared to savoy spinach?
Just a heads-up, your USDA Hardiness Zone doesn't really matter for annual veggies like leafy greens. It's more for perennials. For summer heat, I suggest trying heat-tolerant lettuces like Muir or Cherokee. They do well for me into late July if given some shade. I also plant them in between my taller crops like tomatoes and cucumbers, which works out great! Chard tends to do well too during the early summer months.
Oh wow, I had no idea that the Hardiness Zone wasn’t relevant for this! I'm still learning the ropes here. I'll certainly go for those lettuce varieties and maybe plant them between my tomatoes and cucumbers as you suggested. Thank you!
Got it, I’ll add Swiss chard to my planting list—thanks!