We love summer for the warm weather and delicious varieties of produce that it allows us to grow! There's nothing quite like enjoying harvests from your Farmstand and the sunny weather that helped grow it. For some parts of the country, however, extremely hot weather (90F+) can make growing produce a bit difficult. We've got some great tips for growing through the hot summer months!

: You can also escape the heat by moving your Farmstand inside to a well insulated area!

Hot temperatures can cause your plants to:

Wilt during the day

Drink up lots more water

Bolt (when leafy greens go to flower before reaching harvest size)

It's normal for plants to wilt during the day, even when there's enough water in the reservoir.  Plants wilt because the rate at which they lose water is greater than the rate at which they absorb water. Your plants will recover overnight as the temperature cools. You can mitigate wilting by increasing the timer's watering cycle to run continuously during the hottest parts of the day. This also creates a cooling effect that lowers the temperature of the plants' roots, further relieving them from the heat.

In very hot weather, you should check your water reservoir and top if off at least twice a week to make sure it doesn't run dry. The heat causes your plants to use water more quickly than usual, especially as the plants get closer to harvest size. Being more attentive to your water reservoir will help prevent losing any plants to dehydration.

Bolting in hot weather is a sign that the plant is stressed and thinks it's dying. As a result, it goes to flower and seed before reaching ideal harvest size, which can negatively affect the flavor and texture. If you notice a plant is starting to bolt, remove it immediately from the Farmstand so it can still be used before its flavor and texture change.

Growing produce in hot weather brings a few new issues to look out for but they can be reduced by keeping the temperature of your water cool and providing artificial shade for your Farmstand.

Help seedlings acclimate after their summer road trip with a little extra TLC. Place your new arrivals outside for a day or two in partial sun, sprinkling with water so they don’t dry out. Growing indoors? Place seedlings by a window so they get some light, then plant in your Farmstand the very next day.

 

Harvest plants in the morning or evening. This will allow the most time for plants to recover and regain their structure after hours of intense heat. Making a plan to harvest certain plants will ensure you are able to harvest them at the best possible time!

We offer our seedlings varieties on a seasonal basis to showcase what grows best in a given season. However, some plants handle the heat better than others! Here are some of the best varieties to grow in hot weather:

If you have any questions, call 512-234-4001 or email our Customer Success team.