I'm gardening in zone 7b with a raised bed that's filled with compost, peat moss, and organic soil. While my watermelon, cucumbers, and beans are thriving, I'm struggling with growing broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and radishes. I even tried starting them indoors before transplanting, but they only last a few days before drying up. What's the reason for this?
3 Answers
You're spot on! Those crops are best suited for cooler temperatures, and they won't do well in heat like this. If you're eager to grow greens, you might want to look up some heat-resistant varieties, but otherwise it's best to hold off on those until it’s cooler outside.
It sounds like the weather might be the issue! Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and radishes are considered cool-season crops, and you're trying to grow them in the heat of summer. They really don’t like those high temperatures, especially if it's hitting 90°F during the day. You might want to wait until later in the season to plant them, like around September when it starts to cool down.
Definitely too hot for those crops! It's common for new gardeners to mix up cool and warm-season varieties. If you can, try planting your cool-season veggies when the temperatures drop and maybe put some shade cloth over them for a bit of protection until then.