Your guide to helping your food-garden survive the summer sizzle

Ah, the Lowveld! A picturesque paradise of nature, with its lush landscapes and charming wildlife. But come summer, the temperatures can sky-rocket into the realms of “sauna-like”. This makes growing food feel more like trying to grow delicate flowers in a blast furnace! But fear not, Lowveld gardeners. The Kokiville team has their fair share of gardening experience in all seasons and we still learn new tricks every year! Let’s talk through some of the challenges we face during the hot summer months and how to conquer them like a true food-growing master!

The Challenges: Heat, Humidity, and Hiccups

During summer, the sun in the Lowveld doesn’t just shine; it’s like a laser beam focused on scorching your garden! Your precious seedlings, already trying their best to grow, might feel like they’re on the receiving end of an unrelenting hairdryer. With high humidity and parched soil, plants are much more prone to dehydration. The Lowveld summer can leave your plants as wilted as that poor salad you forgot about in the back of your fridge! And of course, these hot and humid conditions can turn your garden into a buffet for pests. Aphids, caterpillars, and all sorts of other unwelcome visitors may come knocking.

Strategies for Success: Gardening in the Heat

Now that we’ve shared our common garden woes, here are 5 tips to help you and your garden survive—and thrive!

1. Embrace the Shade!

Create some shade systems in your garden. Think of it as offering your plants a summer retreat. And for this tip, you are absolutely allowed to get creative! You can use anything from strategically placed umbrellas (think garden fashion statement) to shade cloth or even taller companions like sunflowers to cast some well-deserved shade.

2. Water Wisely

To minimize water loss through evaporation, water your garden during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon. Applying mulch, which is a material like leaves, grass clippings, straw or wood chips that is spread over the soil, can also help to keep the soil moist. It’s like providing your plants with a protective blanket.

3. Choose the Right Crops

This is not necessarily the time for delicate lettuces to step into the spotlight. Rather opt for heat-tolerant varieties like okra, eggplants, or sweet potatoes that thrive in the heat. If you really want to grow those tender greens, consider varieties bred for resilience or rather save them for the cooler months.

4. Introduce Companion Planting

Companion planting is a gardening technique where specific plants are grown together to benefit each other. Here are our favorite kinds of companion plants that grow well in summer:

Nasturtiums: These vibrant flowers attract aphids away from your vegetable plants, acting as a sacrificial crop.

Marigolds: Known for their ability to repel nematodes, whiteflies, and aphids.

Tagetes: Similar to marigolds, these flowers can deter nematodes and whiteflies.

Dill, fennel, and coriander: These herbs attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and lacewings, which can help control pests.

Violas: Not only an edible flower, but also a great option to attract beneficial insects like pollinators and predator bugs.

Cosmos: A popular choice for attracting bees, butterflies, and ladybugs, which are natural predators of many garden pests.

Alyssum: This low-growing plant attracts hoverflies and parasitic wasps, both of which are beneficial insects.

Radishes: These fast-growing plants can act as a ‘trap crop’ for flea beetles, diverting their attention away from your main vegetable crops.

Mustard: Another trap crop option, mustard can attract cabbageworms and other pests.

Basil: Basil helps to repel flies, the carrot fly, asparagus beetles, whiteflies and even mosquitoes!

5. Regular Patrols

Don’t just water and wander off—with great gardening power comes great monitoring responsibility! Take time to patrol your garden regularly. A quick check can catch problems before they blow up into a full-grown crisis. Plus, it’s a great excuse to hang out in your lush garden sanctuary!

While the Lowveld summer can be a fierce opponent in your gardening journey, remember that every scorching day is just another chance to hone your gardening skills. Following these 5 tips will put you well on your way to crafting a thriving food garden. So put on that sun hat, grab your gardening gloves, and strut into the heat like a true Lowveld gardening superstar!

Your veggies will thank you.

Happy gardening, and may your harvest be plentiful!