I have full sun from sunup to sundown in my Zone 7 yard. Is it possible to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and carrots in the yard without them dying from the Philadelphia heat?
Debbie Reilly, PA
It sounds like you have ideal conditions for vegetables, as long as you can provide sufficient water during high summer. In Philadelphia, the growing season between the last and first frost dates is long, with plenty of time to bring crops to maturity before cold weather sets in. Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are warm-weather plants, along with eggplant, corn, melons, summer squash, and pumpkins. Bush and pole beans also like to grow in warm soil, while peas prefer a cool start and will suffer when the temperatures get hot. Many of these vegetables can be bought as young seedlings at your local nursery or garden center, or you can start your own from seed packets bought locally or from mail-order seed merchants such as W. Atlee Burpee & Co., Johnny's Selected Seeds, Park Seed Co., Pinetree Garden Seeds, or Harris Seeds. Follow the directions on the seed packet and resist the temptation to set them out in the ground too early, before the soil has warmed.
Carrots, however, are best started from seed sown directly in the ground. They can be sown as early as the soil is workable, probably in March in your area. They will mature in about 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the variety. They are also good when sown in the late summer for a fall crop, but do not do well in the heat of summer.
If your garden is large, you may want to install an irrigation system to ensure that the plants do not dry out and become stressed, thereby reducing your yields. These can be simple and inexpensive or more high-tech, but as long as the soil is kept moist, the plants will thrive. For more information, check out Vegetable Gardening for Dummies (IDG Books, 1999) by Charlie Nardozzi and the editors of the National Gardening Association.