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by Chris Calhoun

Warm weather combined with more time spent at home these days means gardening is on the rise. Gardening veterans and beginners alike are getting their hands dirty as they plant food perfect for summer.

Even if you are starting a little later in the season— after all, it is already June— there’s still time to get some seeds and starts in the ground for a summertime yield. What are some good vegetables to plant in your garden right now?

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Popular Warm Season Veggies

The options for summer planting are numerous, but there are a handful of popular go-tos that make the top of most gardening lists. Tomatoes and sweet (bell) peppers are among the favorites for capturing the warmth and sunlight of a prolific growing season. Eggplant, squash, melons, and pole or bush beans are also great summer foods to grow. Beets, cucumbers, and even some lettuces still have time, and would benefit from a little shade during the day. 

While it might be too late to start onions from seed, you can buy onion sets that look like little bulbs and plant them in between or in the front of your garden beds. They’re great for picking as they grow and using for scallions. If you have grocery store scallions sitting in your fridge or on your counter, place them in a cup with some water instead. They’ll stay alive, fresh, and continue to grow, even in your kitchen window. 

You can also probably still get away with planting radishes. They’re a faster crop— usually done within 30 days. Certain varieties yield an assortment of colors, which is especially fun for kids when it comes time to pull them up from the soil. 

(Considering growing berries? Strawberries are your best bet. They’re popular and grow relatively quickly.)

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A Few Tips for Planting

Where your plants are positioned— in regards to the sun and each other— is important to keep in mind. Anything that’s taller than other plants accompanying it should be planted on the north side of your garden, so that as the plant grows, it doesn’t block sunlight from its neighbors.

For example, in the case of planting tomatoes and peppers together, peppers can provide a wind break for the tomatoes, and the tomatoes can offer a bit of shade for the peppers without completely blocking the sun. Basil can also be planted among tomatoes, with the tomatoes providing cover. While basil enjoys sunlight, it doesn’t like baking in the sun, and its tomato companion offers some protection. 

If you’d like to put beans and onions in your garden, be sure to keep them separate, as onions tend to stunt the growth of beans. If you’re looking to maximize the space, build a bean tipi and place a melon at the bottom instead. (The beans will grow up the tipi, and the melon will use the space at the bottom.) Using pole beans will provide a longer crop, and bush beans will yield all at once, which is great if you’re ready to preserve or share your yield. 

Sometimes the air and heat aren’t great for our gardens. When we struggle with smoky air, as in the case of major wildfires, our plants struggle as well. This is also true if they receive too much direct sunlight and heat, which can cause them to dry out, burn, and/or die.

Covering your plants with a type of shade cloth can help protect them, and using a spray bottle to mist them while shaded can build humidity, which helps prevent them from drying out. 

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For more information, contact your county’s University of California Master Gardener program.