If you live in the Carolinas it is now that time of year to plant your summer vegetables. Our wonderful conditions here in hardiness zone 7b allow you to plant an incredible amount of varieties as the plant and seed aisles of Blackhawk will remind you. Many more than my little urban garden can fit – not for lack of trying mind you. We’ve created this list of top 5 essential veggies to grow this summer / late spring. Best thing, you can grow them in containers, too! Hoorah urban gardening!
- Tomatoes
Seriously, my number one reason for starting a garden. The difference in taste between store bought tomatoes and those grown outside is insane. Do yourself a favor and plant a few plants in a sunny spot in your garden. Varieties range from cherry to plum to meaty and it’s worth trying out a new color like yellow, too. Don’t forget to pick up a tomato cage to support the plants. - Peppers
Same goes for peppers, there are so many fun types to grow! We had great success with jalapeños last year and I’m adding red and yellow bell peppers as well as Anaheim chiles to my raised bed this year. - Green Beans
If you enjoy eating green beans add these to your plot! With both bush and pole beans available they can fit in anyone’s garden. Both types are super easy to grow and will deliver a bountiful harvest all summer long. Just push three beans in the ground every few inches (check the seed package for exact spacing), water and watch them grow! - Lettuce
It’s still cool enough to grow more lettuce, especially the fast growing kinds. If you wait too long it’ll be too hot and the plants will flower and start tasting bitter. Rut roh. So don’t delay and seed some more now. We love fast growing varieties like arugula and mesclun mixes. I never thought it possible but even lettuce tastes better home-grown! - Squash
I also grow these from seeds in my garden but you can get a jumpstart by buying plants and transferring them into your garden. Squash and zucchini need quite a bit of space. If you’re doing square foot gardening, try planting them on the edge of a bed so the big plant doesn’t take up too much space in the bed. Fun fact, you can eat the blossoms, too, just in case you get tired of the many zucchini you’ll be able to harvest.
For all your gardening needs, come see the friendly associates at Blackhawk Hardware’s Garden Center with the best selection of regular and organic seeds and plants in Charlotte, NC!
