Here in zone 9 we experience very hot summers. There are many vegetables that will not grow and many just die in the heat of our summers. So I have come up with a short list of some vegetables that do well in the heat of a zone 9 summers.

Cow Peas (Black Eyed Peas)

Cow Peas are an easy to grow and low maintenance summer crop. They are prolific and quite tasty. Black Eyed Peas are use in many recipes, and rightfully so.

Egg Plant

Egg Plant is one of the easiest summer vegetables to grow. It requires very little work and the results are quite rewarding! Eggplant can be used in many recopies and eaten alone as a meal itself.

Okra

Okra grows very well in the heat and can produce quite a bit of fruit in the summer. Sliced and fried, in a pan or deep fried, Okra is a delicious side dish.

Peanuts

Grown underground so the heat does not affect the peanut the same as many other vegetables grown at home. One of the lowest maintenance plants in the summer garden.

Peppers

Many types of peppers will thrive in a zone 9 summers. Bell peppers do okay but hot peppers do great. Grow and preserve the peppers in summer for a hot winter!

Sweet Potatoes

Like the peanut they grow underground so the heat does not affect them as much. In zone 9 the smaller verities do better, but they make up for small size with large harvests.

Related posts:

1. A Few Heat Tolerant Vegetables
2. Time for some heat tolerant vegetables
3. Water Often and Water at Night

Many of the crops listed will also grow in the spring, fall and winter. These are just a few recommendations that work well as summer crops!

Related posts:

1. Zone 9 Spring Planting Guide
2. Warm Winter Affects Zone 9 Gardens
3. Zone 9 Fall Planting Guide

Natural Predators

Aphids are quite abundant in nature, and because of that they have many predators. Some of these predators can even be bought at a garden shop, but by far the most popular is the ladybug.

Ladybugs will hang around a garden and eat aphids. As long as there is a food source they will stay in the area, helping control an aphid population.

Soap Spray

There are a few commercial products available on the market made to kill pests that are based on soap that work effectively, but some can be made at home. A simple soap spray recipe is 1 part murphys oil soap and 10 parts water, mix in a little bit of olive oil and spray it on the leaves of the affected plants using a spray bottle. After allowing the spray to sit for about 15 minutes, wash off of the plant to avoid burning.

Insecticides

Aphids are very susceptible to pesticides, however many can be quite harsh and remain on fruits and vegetables for quite some time. Zone9Garden.com does not recommend using any pesticides unless it is a last resort when the above two methods are not enough to control and invasion.

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1. Tuesdays Simple Tips – 8/18/09

Summers in Zone 9 have been known to get quite hot and sometimes even get dry. Either of these two conditions can cause stress to a plant and combined they are very stressful. Watering often and watering at night can reduce this stress and help some plants even thrive.

Why water at night?

During daylight hours the sun in Zone 9 can be quite bright and quite hot. These two factors cause water to evaporate quickly. The rapid evaporation of the water means that much more water needs to be used and sometimes the water will not even penetrate to the root zone before evaporating.

Watering after sundown or before sunrise will help prevent evaporation issues. It does, however, cause mold issues. To prevent mold it is best to water an hour before sunrise and water in a manner that does not get the leaves wet, just the soil.

How often?

This is a very difficult question to answer. It very much depends on the soil type and the type of crops being grown. For most crops a moist soil is best. Moist soil feels like a wrung out sponge and does not drip water when picked up and squeezed.

Post 2, Heat Tolerant Vegetables, is soon to come!

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Easy to Grow

Green Beans are part of the legume family and do not need perfect soil. They will produce their own nitrogen (with help from bacteria found in their roots) and are undemanding on the other major nutrients. They can be planted directly outside and have a rather good germination rate.

Grow Quickly

After germination green bean plants grow rather rapidly. Vine type plants continue to grow all season and bush type plants reach max height in a few short weeks.

Delicious

There are many verities that are popular, but almost all of them taste great. They can be used fresh, frozen or canned. One simple recipe is to just allow them to cook all day in a crock-pot with water garlic onion and salt!

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1. Green Beans Nearing Harvest
2. How to Grow Pole Green Beans in a Container
3. Kentucky Wonder Green Beans Setting Fruit

Some Things to consider when planning:

• Types of crops
•  Crop requirements
• Space
• Soil Amendments

Types of Crops The list of crops that can be planted in spring in Zone 9 is vast! Most vegetable favorites go in the ground this time of year. From Tomatoes to Green Beans all the way to Radishes it is the perfect time to begin planting! Refer to our Spring Planting Guide for a good reference.

Crop Requirements

When planning your crops it is important to take their requirements into account. Putting crops like Legumes in close proximity to Tomatoes is never a good idea, the legumes produce a lot of nitrogen causing the tomatoes to grow vigorously with out producing. Take some time and study the crops requirements and plan accordingly.

Space

Now I the perfect time to add more space to a garden that you have been wanting to expand. By either digging, trenching, sheeting or any other method, start now.

Soil Amendments

Soil Amendments often take a few weeks to become their most effective. Adding them before the sowing of seeds or planting helps the soil stabilize before anything has to grow. Placing a THICK layer of compost over the soil now and working it in a week later is a great plan!

Now get out there and plan your garden!

Related posts:

1. Fall Garden – Time to Start Planning
2. Planning my Spring Raised Bed Garden
3. Time for some heat tolerant vegetables

Crops such as lettuce, spinach and many other leafy greens quickly bolted to seed and ruined the crops!

The upside to this warm winter is that many of the crops that would have died of by now are still thriving! Tomatoes and beans are loving this weather!

Check out our Zone 9 Gardening Forum and tell us all about your winter crops!

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1. Fresh Peas – A Winter Staple
2. Zone 9 Garden Forum Soft Launch
3. Join our Growing Community

In Zone 9 the winter is here, and with that comes a few winter crops. Peas are one of the most popular, and also one of the easiest to grow. There are many types of peas, but this guide will concentrate on shelling peas!

Soil

Peas are part of the legume family, and as such they produce their own nitrogen (well, bacteria does it for them, but you get the point). The soil they are planted in should not be overly rich in nitrogen, but well balanced.

Make sure that peas are not grown in the same area other legumes were in the last few months, rotate those crops.

Seed

Pea seeds should be sown directly into the soil. They are a cool weather vegetable, so they should be sown in the fall, or early winter. Place the seeds about ¼” deep and keep the soil moist. They should germinate in a week or two.

Streaking

Peas are climbing vines and need to have something to climb. A 4-5’ tall piece of bamboo works great for this. After the seed has germinated drive one end of the bamboo into the soil directly behind the pea plant. As it grows train it to grow up the steak!

Fertilizer

Peas will not need much fertilizer if the soil is of good quality. A high quality compost mix works well for peas.

Harvest

Peas are ready to harvested when the pods are think and plump and the peas inside the pod can be easily distinguished when touched. Once the peas are ready to be harvested, grab the pod and pinch just above it. That will release the pod from the plant!

NOW ENJOY SOME PEAS!

Related posts:

1. How to Grow Cowpeas (Black Eyed Peas)
2. Green Beans – A May Staple

This time of year in Zone 9 peppers are one of the most popular and most prolific crops. Many growers run into what is known as Pepper Corking and incorrectly think there are problems and often give up on the pepper plant.

Corked Jalapeno

 What is Pepper Corking?

 Corking is a scaring that appears on the surface skin of a pepper, commonly on Jalapenos.  This scaring is caused by the pepper growing faster than the skin can keep up.  The skin rips and the heals leaving a small scar.

 The scars make the pepper look less appetizing, but for many pepper aficionados, corking is a sign of a great tasting mature pepper.  In many South American countries and even in Mexico Corked peppers fetch a high price at market, while they are often not sold at market here in the US due to consumer obsession with appearance.

 The only down side, some don’t even find this a downside, is that the rind of the pepper can be a bit tougher!

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Sowing Broccoli Seeds

August is the perfect time to sow Broccoli seeds indoors. Broccoli seeds are tiny and can be sown in just about any sterile soil. They require consistent moisture and temperature. The seeds will germinate in 5-10 days.

Transplanting Broccoli

Once the high heats of the summer pass Broccoli can be transplanted outside. Broccoli is a heavy feeder and because of this they require a rich, well-drained soil. A natural local soil that has been amended with heavy compost and manure works very well.

The plants will appreciate a bit of shade during the hottest part of the day, so select a location that will allow the plant to get some relief from the heat.

Broccoli Care

Once transplanted allow the plant a week to establish itself. Once established Broccoli will grow faster and more vigorously if provided a well balanced fertilizer. A weekly spray of kelp meal (or similar fertilizer) will encourage healthier plants and a better harvest.

Harvesting Broccoli

Broccoli will develop a single large head in the center of the plant. The buds that make up the head will begin to swell, this is the first sign that the flowers are going to open. This head should be harvested once the first hint of blossoming shows up.

The main head is not the only harvest a Broccoli plant offers. Side shoots will begin to develop once the main head is harvested. This side shoots will continue to develop late into the winter.

Tips

• Mulch around the plant to maintain a consistent moisture level.
• Continue to harvest side shoots until they are too small to justify the effort.
• Once all broccoli has been harvested, a shredded plant adds many nutrients to a compost pile

Related posts:

1. Broccoli – Only Side Shoots Left
2. Growing Broccoli in a Container – An Update
3. Broccoli Loving the Cooler Temperatures