It's Not Too Late to Plant — What to Grow Right Now
As I write this column in the latter half of May, outside it is cold and rainy. We've had a real spring. By the time you're reading this in June, it will likely (hopefully) be hot. Most summer gardens will have already been planted with tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, melons and more. Although many gardeners know the feeling that it's too late, that they're behind on their gardening tasks, come mid-June, that feeling is starting to veer into reality. The summer vegetables should've already been planted. That said, life in 2025 is busy - for better and worse - and it does happen that despite our best efforts we find ourselves truly behind, so what are we to do?
If at all possible, run, don't walk, to your nearest garden center, buy the biggest plants you can find and plop them in the ground immediately. With some luck, you could be harvesting in a few months. Tomatoes, for example, can produce through fall, until the vines freeze. There's also bush beans, swiss chard, and zucchini. Bush beans can produce in only two months after planting, meaning you could be harvesting in August. Swiss chard is known as a cool-season crop, but it actually performs quite well around here in the summer, making it one of my favorite greens. And then there's zucchini - you could be harvesting in less than two months, and by planting late, you might even skip over the season of the dreaded squash vine borer. All this to say, don't let the lateness of the hour get your down. Just plant!
The next thing you can do is start planning for the fall. There are many wonderful vegetables to grow in the fall - lettuce, arugula, kale, carrots, beets, garlic, and much more. Even if you missed out on all the summer fun, you could still get three months of growing in before winter enters the picture. For those new to gardening who want raised beds filled with good soil, a fence to keep out deer and other animals, or an in-ground garden replete with high-quality compost, summer is a great time to set up all that necessary infrastructure. You might even get better rates from local eco-friendly landscape contractors, since summer tends to be a slower season compared to spring or fall. Then you can start planting in August for harvest in September and October.
Learn more about our vegetable garden installation service so you'll be ready to plant the moment temperatures cool.
Spring has been busy and we're keeping this column short, but remember - it's not too late. The main thing is to grow. Put plants and seeds in the ground, watch them, talk to them, and gratefully harvest them. We all have green thumbs, just do it and learn as you go.