Sunny Days, Bountiful Harvest: How to Keep Your Vegetable Garden Thriving in the Heat

As summer temperatures soar, Down to Earth Living is offering advice to help home gardeners protect their vegetable gardens from the damaging effects of heat stress.

Extreme heat can significantly impact even the healthiest plants, especially during prolonged heatwaves. For instance, tomatoes may stop setting fruit, lettuce can bolt, and peppers may wilt or develop signs of sunscald. Understanding how heat affects your vegetables is the first step toward preventing long-term damage.

How Heat Stress Impacts Your Veggies:
When temperatures rise too high for too long, plants can suffer in several ways:

• Wilting & Water Loss: Leaves droop as water evaporates faster than roots can absorb it.
• Leaf Scorching & Sunburn: Brown edges on leaves and blistered fruit indicate heat damage.
• Blossom Drop & Lower Yields: Flowers may fall before fruit can develop.
• Stunted Growth: Heat reduces photosynthesis and nutrient uptake, causing slow growth and yellowing leaves.
• Root Damage: Excessive heat can harm roots, limiting water and nutrient absorption.
• Stress Hormones: Plants produce stress hormones like ethylene, which may slow growth to conserve energy.

Tips to Manage Heat Stress:

Boost the Soil:

• Mix in compost or aged manure to retain moisture.
• Test and balance soil nutrients and pH levels.

Plant Smarter:

• Choose heat-tolerant vegetable varieties.
• Ensure adequate spacing for airflow and root growth.
• Plant in stages to spread risk throughout the season.

Water Effectively:

• Deep water early in the morning is best.
• Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation to target roots.
• Don’t overwater—check with a moisture meter.

Mulch Matters:

• Use straw, wood chips, or grass clippings to keep soil cool and moist.
• Consider using reflective mulch for heat-sensitive crops.

Shade and Shelter:

• Use shade cloth (30–70%) over hoops or frames.
• Plant tall crops to provide shade for more delicate plants.
• Plant hedges or set up fencing to shield plants from drying winds.

Watch for Pests:

• Heat-stressed plants attract bugs and disease.
• Remove dead leaves and use organic treatments as needed.

“Gardeners can’t control the weather, but they can create more favorable microclimates for their plants,” says Stuart Leventhal, Owner, Down to Earth Living. “With a few simple steps, you can help your vegetables survive the summer heat and thrive well into the fall.”

Down to Earth Living Garden Center, located in Pomona in Rockland County, offers 12.5 acres filled with perennials, flowers, shrubs and trees, with new arrivals every week. The 10,000 square foot showroom also houses a large and unique selection of contemporary, classic, traditional, and transitional teak, aluminum and all-weather dining and deep-seating furniture. The center is open
9 – 5 every day and is located near Bergen County at 1040 Route 45. For questions, call 845-354-8500. Website is www.dteliving.com for more information.