Sarah DiMarco
With the hottest days of the year upon us, you may think it's too late to plant a few last vegetables and herbs—but don't fall for this misconception. Many edible plants can be planted in the middle of summer for a bountiful fall harvest. You can also find a few flowering shrubs and plants that mature quickly and prefer the warmer temperatures to liven up your current garden beds.
The key to summer garden success is understanding what conditions certain varieties of greens or herbs prefer so you know what to plant in your region. While people living in Georgia can afford to wait to plant their pumpkins until mid-July, that's not the case for those in the Northern U.S. Be on the lookout for when your region's first frost typically occurs to ensure your harvest has enough time to reach its full, fruitful state before that date.