Plants that need warn environments. Protection from frost and cold in northern environments. Long days with lots of sun hasten the growth of these plants when protected from cold. Hot summer days, warm nights and warm-season vegetables offering their bounty -- glowing tomatoes, hot peppers, summer squash, melons, cucumbers, sweet corn and eggplants. Contrast them with the other main category of vegetables, the cool-season plants, such as cabbage, kale, lettuce and radishes. Vegetables that grow best in hot weather are primarily from subtropical areas, and they need average temperatures between 20 to 30 °C. Summer crops are mostly fruits as opposed to cool-season's leaf and root crops. (adapted from SFGate)
Tomatoes and related plants Vine-ripened tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), still warm from sunlight, is a main reasons for summer gardens. Many cultivars produce tomatoes with excellent taste and texture, but those tomatoes don't ship or store well. Tomatoes originated in subtropical Central America and South America and were taken to Europe. As the use of tomatoes spread, local heirlooms were developed to suit different climates and growing conditions. Tomato plants are killed by a temperature of ) °C or lower. The tomato family (Solanaceae) includes other warm-season vegetables: eggplant, peppers of all kinds and tomatillos. All of these vegetable plants are frost-sensitive and are best started indoors two months before the last frost in areas with short growing seasons.
Squash Family Plants Plants in the squash family (Cucurbitaceae) are absolute "heat hogs," provided they are kept watered. They flourish in heat, and melons need hot temperatures in order to ripen properly. Summer and winter squash (Cucurbita species), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), melons (Cucumis melo) and watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) all belong to the squash family. Originally vine plants, squash plants now are available in bush varieties that conserve garden space. Squash-family plants are all frost-tender, but winter squash fruits can tolerate exposure to temperatures below freezing for short periods.
Corn or maize Originated in Central Mexico and is a member of the grass family. It has become an important food and fodder plant worldwide. Both warm temperatures and adequate moisture are needed for corn ears to develop properly. Corn germinates best in temperatures ranging from20 to 30 °C and grows best in temperatures between 20 to 25 °C. Corn is another crop taken from the West Indies to Europe at an early date. Many corn cultivars exist because corn has been grown for hundreds of years throughout the Americas. An abundance of hybrids are available for modern agriculture and home gardeners.
Beans The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) originated in Mexico, spread north and south to grew prehistorically throughout the Americas. That fact resulted in the development of many bean varieties, such as kidney, red, pink, pinto, black and navy. Along with corn, beans were a valuable staple in diets of the Americas' early human inhabitants. Beans contain 22 percent protein when dry. Bean plants need a long growing season for their produce to be eaten as dry beans. When beans are grown for their immature bean pods, such as green beans, the growing time before harvest is shorter. More than 14,000 bean cultivars are recorded, and the two main divisions are early-maturing bush types and longer-maturing pole bean types.
Tomatoes and related plants Vine-ripened tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), still warm from sunlight, is a main reasons for summer gardens. Many cultivars produce tomatoes with excellent taste and texture, but those tomatoes don't ship or store well. Tomatoes originated in subtropical Central America and South America and were taken to Europe. As the use of tomatoes spread, local heirlooms were developed to suit different climates and growing conditions. Tomato plants are killed by a temperature of ) °C or lower. The tomato family (Solanaceae) includes other warm-season vegetables: eggplant, peppers of all kinds and tomatillos. All of these vegetable plants are frost-sensitive and are best started indoors two months before the last frost in areas with short growing seasons.
Squash Family Plants Plants in the squash family (Cucurbitaceae) are absolute "heat hogs," provided they are kept watered. They flourish in heat, and melons need hot temperatures in order to ripen properly. Summer and winter squash (Cucurbita species), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), melons (Cucumis melo) and watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) all belong to the squash family. Originally vine plants, squash plants now are available in bush varieties that conserve garden space. Squash-family plants are all frost-tender, but winter squash fruits can tolerate exposure to temperatures below freezing for short periods.
Corn or maize Originated in Central Mexico and is a member of the grass family. It has become an important food and fodder plant worldwide. Both warm temperatures and adequate moisture are needed for corn ears to develop properly. Corn germinates best in temperatures ranging from20 to 30 °C and grows best in temperatures between 20 to 25 °C. Corn is another crop taken from the West Indies to Europe at an early date. Many corn cultivars exist because corn has been grown for hundreds of years throughout the Americas. An abundance of hybrids are available for modern agriculture and home gardeners.
Beans The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) originated in Mexico, spread north and south to grew prehistorically throughout the Americas. That fact resulted in the development of many bean varieties, such as kidney, red, pink, pinto, black and navy. Along with corn, beans were a valuable staple in diets of the Americas' early human inhabitants. Beans contain 22 percent protein when dry. Bean plants need a long growing season for their produce to be eaten as dry beans. When beans are grown for their immature bean pods, such as green beans, the growing time before harvest is shorter. More than 14,000 bean cultivars are recorded, and the two main divisions are early-maturing bush types and longer-maturing pole bean types.