It’s clear that summer has officially come to Iowa. We’ve already had our fair share of heat and humidity, which means it’s time to think about the next round of summer vegetables in your garden.
During your runs to the garden center, it can be tempting to add some plants and veggies that look good at the time to your cart, but you should seriously consider what you’ve already got growing in your organic garden. The last thing you want is to run out of space and end up with dueling plants!
We believe that you can grow whatever vegetables you want in your garden, but it is nice to know which ones thrive in Iowa. Here’s a list of five vegetables we recommend planting in your organic Iowa garden this summer.
1.Peas and Green Beans
Perhaps the thing that makes growing peas and beans, so rewarding is the fact that they’re so green. Pulling a fresh pod off the vine can be delightful, so why not add them to your summer garden? Peas can be planted in the early spring and grow well on a trellis. Sugar-Bon is a popular variety that offers a lot of flavor, short vines, and an edible pod.
Green beans shouldn’t be planted until the soil is warm, which makes them an ideal summer choice. Many gardeners choose Tendergreen and Topcrop among other varieties. Be sure to use your MCG BioMarkers® to label them when you place them in the soil.
2.Cabbage and Broccoli
Plants from the cabbage family are great springtime starters and do well in the summer. Start your cabbage and broccoli indoors in the early spring and bring them outside as soon as the soil is workable.
3.Cauliflower
As another member of the cabbage family, cauliflower grows very well in our state. Snow Crown cauliflower is a popular variety that will thrive in your spring and summer garden. To give your cauliflower plenty of room, we recommend using the 13-inch biomarkers to clearly label them.
4.Lettuce
Iowa summers are warm and humid, which means the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven. This is the perfect time for a fresh garden salad composed of veggies from your own organic garden.
Lettuce can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked, so don’t hesitate to plant it early and keep it going throughout the summer.
5.Peppers
Peppers are fun to plant because they’re colorful and delicious. Not only will they provide your garden with a pop of color but biting into a juicy, crunchy one is so satisfying.
Count on peppers to thrive throughout the summer. If you’d like to give them even more of a health boost, we recommend placing some Epsom salt into the soil which will act as an additional magnesium source for you and your family.
When it comes to clearly labeling the plants in your organic garden, trust the 100% biodegradable MCG BioMarkers®, which are made with a plant-based material that is biodegradable (in compost) and corn cob fibers. MCG BioMarkers® come in four different colors (Terra Cotta, Dark Green, Black and Whitestone) and three different sizes to suit your garden’s needs. Check out the details on our website.
