If you’re like most gardeners, you probably spend most of your time in the early spring planting seeds and getting your garden ready for growing plants all summer long. However, once some of those plants start dying out, there are still several plants that can be planted later in the summer – even into fall! This post will discuss some of the best plants to start late in the summer. Whether you’re looking for vegetables or flowers, you will find a list of plants that will thrive in the slightly cooler months!
Why Start Plants In The Late Summer?
Late summer may not seem like the best time to start a garden, but there are several reasons it can be advantageous. The temperatures are often milder in late summer than in early spring, making it easier to keep tender plants alive. Additionally, many plants go dormant in the heat of summer and will begin to actively grow again in late summer when the temperatures start to cool down.
This allows for a longer growing season, which can result in bigger and healthier plants. Finally, starting plants in late summer gives them a head start on the competition for resources like sun and water. These factors make late summer an ideal time to start a garden. So don’t wait for springtime – get out there and start planting!
Plants You Can Start In The Late Summer
If your garden is all primed and ready for planting, but you’re not sure what to put in it, never fear! Plenty of plants will do well if you start them in late summer. Here are just a few examples:
Lettuce
Late summer is the perfect time to start growing lettuce. The days are still warm, but the nights are beginning to cool down, which is ideal for this cool-weather crop. Lettuce seeds will germinate in soil that is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so you’ll need to make sure that the soil in your garden is within this range. One way to do this is to use a soil thermometer. You can also start lettuce indoors and transplant it outdoors once the temperatures have dropped.
To get started, scatter the seeds over the soil’s surface and gently press them down. Be sure to keep the soil moist by watering it regularly. Once the seedlings have emerged, thin them out, spaced about six inches apart. Lettuce is ready to harvest when the leaves are crisp and green. Head lettuce will be ready in about six weeks, while leaf lettuce will take about two weeks longer.
Oriental Lily
One of the most beautiful flowers you can find in nature is the oriental lily. They are very elegant and have a distinct appearance that is hard to miss. Many people don’t know that you can start them from seed in the late summer. This is a great time to start them because the weather is not too hot, and they will have plenty of time to grow before the winter sets in.
You must ensure that you plant the seeds in a pot with good drainage and keep the soil moist but not too wet. Once they sprout, you will need to feed them with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. If you do all these things, you should have no problem growing beautiful oriental lilies that will add a touch of elegance to your garden.