The summer season is the best time for growing some of the juicy nutrient-rich vegetables from seeds in your garden. The warm weather condition provides an excellent opportunity to get your hands dirty in planting vibrant vegetables such as cucumbers, chilli peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, summer squash, okra, and melons.

Here’s how you can grow various summer vegetables from seeds by following this simple guide.

7 Best Vegetables to start from Seeds

Grow these delicious vegetables this summer season and harvest them fresh from your thriving garden. They can be either organic, heirloom, or hybrid vegetable seeds.

1. Cucumbers

• This heat-loving vegetable is a favorite among many gardeners. Cucumbers are juicy, crunchy, and pack a wealth of nutrients. Grow this delightful cool summer vegetable to add to your salads or smoothies.

• Start sowing cucumber seeds from late spring to early summer (May to June). Plant them a week after the last frost when the ground temperature is at least 60 degrees.

• Seed starting soil can be sandy loam soil with large quantities of organic compost.

• Cucumbers germinate very quickly within 3-10 days depending on the seed variety. Full sun and consistent watering can promote healthy growth.

• Harvest this rich hydrating vegetable within 50-70 days from planting.

Read on to find out the step-by-step guide for growing cucumbers from seeds.

2. Chilli Peppers

• Chilli pepper varieties grow well in humid and warm temperatures. The summer season can be the perfect time to grow hot-spicy peppers fresh from your garden.

• Chilli pepper seeds can be planted indoors when the temperature is between 70-85 degrees.

• Use regular potting soil for your seed trays to get started.

• You can expect germination within 7-10 days. Chilli pepper seedlings can be transplanted when they reach 1 inch tall and develop their first ‘true’ leaves.

• Pepper plants grow best in the full summer heat and require sparse watering. Your spicy chilli peppers can be harvested within 60-150 days.

Read on to find out how to grow chilli peppers from seeds.

3. Tomatoes

• This popular vegetable with its vibrant red color and juicy inside is a sought-after summer treat. Grow tomatoes from seeds fresh out of your garden and enjoy them raw or in delicious recipes.

• Tomato seeds grow best in the late spring and early summer seasons.

• They prefer well-draining and slightly acidic soil. Germination time can be anywhere between 6-8 days, with an ideal temperature of 65-85 degrees.

• Tomato seedlings need full sun with plenty of water to thrive. An occasional boost of fertilizers can enable healthy and bushier plant growth.

• If your tomato crop is planted in early spring, expect a late summer harvest within 65-70 days.

4. Eggplant

• Eggplant or brinjal is a tasty summer vegetable that can be stir-fried, roasted, and even smashed for use as creamy additions to your dishes. Add this sun-loving vegetable to your garden and harvest healthy organic produce.

• Eggplants are warm-season vegetables that grow best in the late spring and early summer seasons when the temperature is 50 degrees or above.

• Eggplant seeds prefer fertile, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Germination can occur in 7-12 days.

• This perennial vegetable requires full sun with sparse watering of about 1 inch per week.

• Harvest delicious eggplants in about 100-120 days from planting.

5. Summer Squash

• Summer squash is harvested tender when the vegetable hasn’t reached full maturity. Some of the popular summer squashes are yellow zucchini, white bush scallop squash, crookneck squash, and more.

• As the name suggests they grow best in warm conditions when the temperature is between 65-75 degrees. Directly sow outdoors in early summer or late spring.

• Seed starting soil for summer squash seeds can be slightly acidic soil with high organic matter in its composition.

• It can take up to 7-10 days for summer squashes to germinate. Plant them in areas with full sun exposure and water them 1 inch weekly.

• When the summer squashes are glossy, it’s ready to be harvested. Each squash variety differs in its harvest time.

6. Okra

• Okra is extremely tolerant to drought and heat, making it the perfect addition to your summer garden. This annual vegetable thrives in warm conditions and is a special delicacy in many world cuisines.

• Start okra seeds outdoors when the soil temperature is between 65-70 degrees. Plant them when the threat of frost is passed in late spring and summer.

• They grow well in a neutral soil type that’s well-draining and nutrient-rich. Germination can occur in 7-12 days at an average temperature of 85 degrees.

• Sunlight is important for okra plants to bear many fruits. Plant them in areas that receive 5-6 hours of sun. 1 inch of water per week is recommended.

• Your okras are ready to be harvested when the pods reach 1-4 inches long.

7. Melons

• Looking for a sweet juicy vegetable to quench your thirst and hydrate this summer? Melons are the way to go. Some of the popular melons you can try growing are watermelons, honeydew melons, cantaloupes, and more.

• Plant melon seeds when the soil is warm and the frost has passed. Directly sow the seeds outdoors during summer and late spring for a successful harvest.

• The soil requirement for melons can be sandy loam soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Germination can occur within 4-10 days at 85 degrees.

• Melon seedlings require an average sun exposure of 5-6 hours with at least 1-2 inches of water per week.

• Melons can be harvested 70-100 days from planting. Watch out for signs such as cracking or brittle stems to harvest.

Shop at Seed World Marketplace for some of the finest varieties of vegetable seeds for your summer garden today!