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Q. I’m in Southern California, and it is HOT here, I’m looking for some leafy greens that can stand extreme heat conditions. I saw you have the Malabar Spinach and that’s supposed to be pretty good for zone 9/10… Do you have any recommendations of heat tolerant varieties lettuce, spinach, cucumbers etc. Anything else you can recommend based on what you’ve seen growing in your garden?
A. Thank you for your patience in awaiting the list. 🙂 We took your requested varieties and expanded our search, deciding to make it a topic to share with all customers who live in extreme heat areas. Thank you for sparking this research! Below the lists, we also have added some links to articles you may find helpful for extreme heat conditions, and some tips that are helpful when gardening in high heat. We hope you find this helpful. May God bless your gardening efforts!
Table of Contents
Heirloom Plants That Do Well in Extreme Heat Conditions
Cucumbers that tend to do better in the heat are:
For lettuces, the most heat tolerant varieties we have are(but should still be planted outside the hottest part of the year in extreme heat climates) :
The other greens that do well( a couple of them you already know) are:
- Malabar Spinach(a climber, so make sure to trellis or plant near a fence)
- New Zealand Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Arugula
- Mustard Greens – especially Green Wave (known for doing well in extreme heat)
- Collard Greens
Herbs that do well in the heat are:
- Basil ( see all our many basil varieties here)
- Cumin
- Rosemary
- Summer Savory
Pole beans also do better than most beans in the heat:
Wax Beans can also withstand more heat:
- Cherokee Wax Bean
Cowpeas do well in hot climates:
Okra loves heat, having originated in Ethiopia:
Eggplant does great in the heat, as well, coming from Asia and India where eggplant is the basis of many delicious recipes:
Tomatoes like heat, too, but some varieties don’t set fruit in higher heat conditions. These varieties tend to handle more extreme heat better:
- Arkansas Traveler
- Beefsteak
- Black Cherry
- Black Krim
- Brandywine Pink
- Cherokee Purple
- Floradade
- Mule Team
- Oregon Spring
- Stupice
- Super Sioux
Radishes can tend to do well in high heat, varieties that are known to be heat tolerant are:
Some beets stand well in more heat:
Tips For Growing Heirloom Squash in Extreme Heat Conditions
Many gardeners in extremely hot climates find summer squash/zucchini don’t do well in the high heat. A trick to try is growing moschata winter squash varieties and harvesting them early as a summer squash. You can also use the young leaves and shoot tips of squash for cooking greens. A great variety of winter squash to use as a summer squash is:
Heirloom Vegetable That Love the Heat
For veggies that love heat and all varieties should do well, we recommend:
- corn
- lima/butter beans
- peppers: both hot and sweet/bell(for best sweet pepper try California Wonder or Sweet Banana)
- melons, both cantaloupe and watermelons(particularly Crimson Sweet Watermelon. Keep the plants evenly moist but don’t over water especially when the fruits are ripening. Too much water will dilute the sugars, making the melons bland.)
Planting Dates for Your Location
We also highly recommend looking up planting dates for your specific location in a search engine. Type in something like, “Vegetable Garden Planting Dates …(insert name of your town)”. This proves extremely helpful in getting planting times right for your area. We can’t specify planting dates for each area of the U.S. on our packets, so this helps to know more clearly when is the best time to plant each kind of fruit or vegetable in your specific location/climate.
Other Tips
Other tips that are important for the heat of Summer, most especially in regions with the hottest summers are:
- Keep soil moist by mulching. A few inches of bark chip, wood chip, pine needles, or leaf mulch bagged in autumn are all good organic choices for feeding the soil as well as conserving water.
- Vegetables are thirsty, so water regularly yet deeply. Also, water in the early morning or evening to avoid condensation loss at hotter times of day.
- Remove competition for water by weeding regularly.
- Don’t overstimulate plant growth by fertilizing during hot weather. Plant roots won’t be able to support the foliage.
Links to Other Sites On Varieties That Do Well in Extreme Heat Conditions
https://freckledcalifornian.com/2020/03/30/10-heat-loving-vegetables-and-flowers-to-grow-from-seed
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/hot-climate-tomatoes.htm
https://www.lasfloresgarden.com/southern-california-planting-guide
FAQ
What are the best heat-tolerant leafy greens for extreme climates like Southern California?
In extreme heat conditions, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, and Swiss Chard are top choices for leafy greens that thrive. Other options include heat-resistant varieties of lettuce like Freckles and Simpson Elite, along with mustard greens and collard greens.
Can cucumbers grow in extreme heat conditions? If so, which varieties are best?
Yes, cucumbers can grow in hot conditions if you choose the right varieties. Some heat-tolerant cucumber varieties include Homemade Pickles, Lemon, Marketmore 76, Spacemaster 80, and White Wonder.
Are there any herbs that do well in high heat environments?
Yes, many herbs can withstand extreme heat conditions. Heat-tolerant varieties include basil, cumin, rosemary, and summer savory. These herbs are great for adding flavor to your dishes while thriving in hot climates.
Do heirloom tomatoes perform well in extreme heat conditions, and what varieties should I consider?
Heirloom tomatoes can do well in hot conditions, though not all varieties set fruit in extreme heat conditions. Some of the best heat-tolerant varieties include Arkansas Traveler, Black Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Floradade, and Super Sioux.
How can I protect my garden from the negative effects of extreme heat conditions?
To protect your plants from extreme heat conditions, use mulch to retain moisture, water deeply in the early morning or evening, and avoid fertilizing during peak heat. It’s also important to keep your soil moist by using organic mulch like wood chips or leaf mulch, which helps both conserve water and nourish the soil during extreme heat conditions.
My grandparents, Lutie and George Shaw were farmers and sold their produce at a roadside stand. I grew up eating raw veggies, strawberries, and wheat in the fields. My grandfather gave me my 1st seed catalog when I was 6 and helped me place an order for cantelope, radishes and leaf lettuce. In those days I spread peanut butter on lettuce and rolled up for a snack. That was 61 years ago. I was instantly hooked on growing things when the 1st sprout popped up. They grew Golden Bantam sweet corn. Probably it was the improved strain you offer because I think there were more rows. I ate it raw in the fields, too. Please consider offering short day onions that can be grown in the south. They are hard to find.
Thanks.
+JMJ+
Thank you for your excellent article and quality seeds. We live in South Central Texas and are a few years into gardening with seeds from St Clare! I am thrilled by our newfound success with pole beans, okra, carrots, lettuces, herbs, kale, cucumbers, zinnias and snapdragons. We are learning to plant several growing seasons for different crops year round as the weather allows. Your helpful knowledge has been such a game changer for me, new to Texas gardening. I second the notion of looking at local garden groups or master gardener extensions. We live near Texas A&M and have discovered a very good planting guide through them and local farm/feed stores. I’m excited to try a few new items in this article next go round! God bless you and happy gardening!
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J.M.J.
HI Ann,
Thank you for your positive feedback, and comments. Your gardening sounds excellent! Yes, we have found extension offices to be a great source for local information on gardening. We appreciate your patronage. God bless!
Thank you for a wonderful article. I just shared it with a FB group called Zone 9 Northern California (although we get members from all over). I hope more people discover what great service you offer.
God bless. ❤️
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J.M.J.
HI Julie,
Thank you for your comment, encouragement, and sharing our article. We love serving our customers.
God bless,
John, Sarah, and Family
I am in a zone 4 area. I wondered what type of veggies are good for my area. We are on top of a mountain and last year was disastrous for all the neighbors I talked to. Too much rain and needed more heat and sun.
Thank you for anything you can share with me.
Debbie
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J.M.J.
Hi Deborah,
Here is a link that should have some helpful articles in figuring out what you can grow successfully in your area: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=zone+4+high+altitude+what+can+you+grow
We hope this helps! Thank you, and God bless!
John, Sarah, and Family
I think this was a very good article! I have planted many of the suggested seeds, with lots of success. And things like cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, iceberg type lettuces, cooler whether plants, and the head lettuce love the cooler nights, it helps them form nice heads. I occasionally will use shade clothes. I plant in spring (mid February for me) and again in September. One of our new favorites is white sweet potatoes. I don’t use any store bought fertilizer or insecticides. My husband munches up the fall leaves and I have chickens, along with composting is all the fertilizer they get! Happy gardening everyone! Zone 9 in Florida.
I struggle every year to grow a few veggies and herbs in the Mojave Desert of Southern California, between Palm Springs and Las Vegas. High desert, snow in winter, 115-120F in May, June, July, August, very poor soil. Rainfall, 4 inches/year. Will be facing water rationing in 2 more years. I am committed to saving my bathing water for my vegetable garden .But every year I learn new ways to coax more food out of the soil. I hand-pollinate the tomato blossoms with an electric toothbrush, otherwise, no fruit would set (Black Krim). I look for seeds that do well in Iraq or Iran, such as a tomato whose skin will not crack in extreme heat. My rule of thumb is ‘If it will grow in Afghanistan or West Texas, it will grow here in the Mojave.’ It is even possible to grow short season veggies and harvest before May 1st, when the extreme heat puts an end to home gardening For the most part, fall/winter gardening is my mainstay.
Every year a new, helpful trick makes itself known. And then, once in awhile, a fantastic article like yours, St. Clare, comes along to keep me going for another few years! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Any and all knowledge is welcome, from anyone. Thank you much.
This article is great! It would be wonderful if you could publish an article like this for extreme heat and drought for perennial flowers, zone 9. We are in Central Florida, with 10 acres, and it gets discouraging to keep trying plants and failing. All areas with irrigation are completely landscaped, however we have a large pond that we are now able to enjoy. We are in the process of removing the invasive wild grape vines, and would like some flowers that are not toxic to fish. The banks of the pond are quite high, so drainage is not an issue. We don’t plant lower near the water because of the increase and decrease of the water depth with our droughts and hurricane rains.
Thank you!
Kind Regards,
Deborah T.
Molokhia is a green very popular in the mid east. Also try lamb’s quarter. Oregano, green onions, mint family all have done well taking care of themselves reseeding and coming up again in triple digit dry conditions. The lambs quarter is the only leafy green that survives heat where I am. If you can get a grape vine to grow you can use grape leaves in cooking.
Study what people have been growing in conditions like you have. In the SW, Mexico, mid east, Greece, Sicily, north Africa, Iran, India, etc. My guess is you don’t have a lot of water to work with so whatever hot dry places like yours have had success with.
Wanted to thank you for the wonderful service. Received my order in just a couple of days. Also thank you for the free gift.
God bless
The Diva cucumber also does very well in extreme heat. I have also had luck with the jarrahdale pumpkin!
Thank you for the great info for southern gardens, i’m just getting started!! God bless!
ellen