Growing in the Texas Heat

     One of the great things about gardening in Texas is that our winters aren't typically very harsh, so we can grow late into the year.  The past several years it has gotten pretty cold (down to freezing for a day or two) but our winters don't usually set in until December here near the Gulf of Mexico.  The trade off is that summer sets in early and it gets brutal outside.  This year has been especially dry and hot.  When the heat of summer gets here the choices for crops that will keep producing dwindle.  Leafy greens such as lettuce will not grow and fruiting crops such as tomatoes stop producing fruit.  If you have a soil garden you have the option of simply taking a break until things cool down in the fall, but you can't do that with an aquaponic system.  The fish in an aquaponic system rely on plants to filter the water.  Fish mortality will rise significantly if this filtering action is lost.  So what can you grow during hot summers?

Lemon Balm flowing over the sides of an aquaponic system

     One of the easiest varieties of crops to grow in the heat of summer are herbs.  Currently I'm growing lemon balm and mint in my aquaponic systems, and they couldn't be doing better.  Both are growing out of control!  I'm growing some basil, as well.  Basil doesn't mind the heat either.  Peppers are also a great choice.  Most peppers will thrive and produce despite the heat of a Texas summer.  I'm currently trying tomatillos in aquaponics.  I can state for a fact that tomatillos will thrive in heat with little water in soil, and I have high hopes for them in aquaponics.  I started a couple of bean varieties several days ago, along with a pickling variety of cucumber.  So far they've been growing well in the heat.  The question I'm looking to answer is how well will they do having been started in midsummer, when the worst of the heat is already here.

Bean plants on August 22, 2011

Same plants two days later

     As these plants continue to grow I'll be keeping track of their progress.  So look out for a post down the line with more information on the results.  If you want a safe bet, grow some mint or lemon balm.  They won't disappoint.