russelljane
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:15 pm

Too late to start garden?

Hi ! I'm new to the forums and the gardening game itself. I'm hoping to start my first vegetable garden, planting in a 4 x 10 raised bed.

Is it too late to start tomato, eggplant, zucchini, squash, and pepper crops? I live in Alabama, where the average temperature is around 95 F (35 C) each day...What if I started from plants?
What can I plant right now?

Apologies if this is redundant! I've been researching for the past few weeks but am finding so much conflicting info.

Thanks

User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Posts: 9476
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

You may wish to focus on faster growing and prolific tomatoes, like cherry tomatoes. You may still be able to get those going if you're starting from seed. Otherwise try some starts, plants that have already been started.

User avatar
rainbowgardener
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 25279
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

It is not too late if you buy plants. It really is very late to be starting tomatoes and peppers from seed. And you don't want the tiny baby plants in the little six packs. You need good sized transplants in quart size nursery pots.

Then get them used to the hot sun gradually. Once they are in the ground, keep them in moist soil and well mulched and maybe give them some shade from hottest afternoon sun. Should be fine! :)

User avatar
applestar
Mod
Posts: 30514
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

I think you could start melons and watermelons and okra from seeds if you can keep them watered.

Maybe zucchini and squash, pumpkins, too -- I think this is more question of pest issues than heat.

You could start sweet potatoes by growing slips from organic potatoes and probably have enough time for them to grow -- do you know when your first average frost is?

You could try southern peas and heat tolerant beans like asparagus/yard long and rattlesnake.

If you can get started plants of eggplants, they should be OK in the heat.

User avatar
jal_ut
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7447
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Northern Utah Zone 5

Zucchini, squash and pumpkins should do just fine started from seed. Do you know how big these things get? 4X10 ain't much space for growing squash.

User avatar
applestar
Mod
Posts: 30514
Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

Be sure to read this thread, too -- very related topic

Subject: what plants do well planted late, in 90º - 100º?

russelljane
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:15 pm

Thank you guys! Will end up posting what we decide on



Return to “Vegetable Gardening Forum”