Warm-Season Vegetables
What to plant from spring through summer.
Grow summer in your backyard
Warm-season crops love heat and sunshine. In Southern California we plant them once the soil warms in spring, and many keep producing well into fall.
Roughly March through July, once nights stay above about 50°F.
Days of 70–95°F, full sun (6–8+ hours), and warm soil.
Deep drip irrigation plus thick mulch saves water during hot months.
Coastal gardens warm up later. Inland gardens heat up early but scorch in summer.
Tomatoes
Plant deep, stake or cage early, and water deeply and evenly to prevent split fruit.
Bell Peppers
Need warm soil to thrive. Mulch well and be patient for color.
Chiles
Love heat and often keep producing into fall in mild areas.
Eggplant
A heat lover; harvest while the skin is still glossy.
Cucumbers
Grow up a trellis to save space and keep fruit clean.
Zucchini & Summer Squash
One or two plants feed a family. Pick small and often.
Winter Squash & Pumpkins
Give them room to roam, and cure the harvest in the sun to store for months.
Corn
Plant in blocks, not single rows, so it pollinates well.
Green Beans
Bush beans are quick; pole beans produce longer on a trellis.
Melons
Need heat and steady water; ease off watering as fruit ripens for sweetness.
Watermelon
Ripe when the curly tendril near the fruit dries and the belly turns yellow.
Okra
Thrives in hot inland gardens. Pick pods at 3–4 inches.
Sweet Potatoes
Plant slips into warm soil. The leaves are edible too.
Basil
Pinch off flower buds to keep leaves coming. A great companion for tomatoes.
Sunflowers
Easy and fun for kids, and they feed pollinators and birds.
Planting dates are a general guide for San Diego County. Your microclimate may shift them a few weeks either way.
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