Tomatoes getting worn out? Plant zinnia!

Colorful bed of zinnia

The summer is heating up and your tomatoes and cucumbers are looking a little…fried. You want to keep the garden looking good, but what to plant in this heat? We’ve got you covered! Read on for more info on Houston summer gardening.

If you want a low-maintenance garden because you’re traveling or just don’t want to deal with the heat, plant Zinnia and Cosmos by seed! They germinate quickly, love the heat, and produce beautiful flowers that pollinators love and look great in vases.

A summer bouquet: Zinnia, Marigold, and Cosmos

If you still want to eat from your garden, now’s a great time to plant black-eyed peas, lima beans, melon, winter squash, okra, eggplant, and peppers. Eggplant and peppers will need to be put in as transplants so you can jump ahead on the germination and production schedule, but the others grow really well from seed right now and should last through august.

Make sure to keep everything well watered and give it plenty of liquid fertilizer. These plants are going to be very hungry and thirsty in the intense summer heat and will need all the help they can get to produce gorgeous flowers and delicious fruits!