When to plant vegetables after the extreme summer

As the extreme summer comes to a close, gardeners are advised to begin preparing for the upcoming planting season. Onions grown from sets, along with shallots and garlic, are currently reaching maturity and should be harvested immediately. These should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry location with ample airflow. Vegetables started from seeds will follow slightly later and may yield a lighter harvest compared to those from sets. This year has proven that starting early with sets offers significant advantages, even though sets tend to cost more than seeds. Over-wintered onions, planted in late October or sown now, are utilizing winter moisture to develop and ripen by June. However, they do not store well and are sufficient to meet summer demand. Gardeners can now place orders for sets intended for late October planting. Hardy salad onions can also be sown at this time. Potatoes are experiencing mixed results, with some maturing early while others are succumbing to drought conditions. Once the foliage begins to die back, the tubers should be lifted and stored in a cool environment as soon as possible. Left in the ground, they risk damage from slugs during rainfall and may start to sprout due to the prolonged exposure to hot soil. Root vegetables such as beetroot, carrots, and parsnips demonstrate greater resilience to drought, particularly if planted in early spring. Even these may require a deep watering session during the height of summer. Those sown now and thinned promptly can produce small root vegetables by October, making them highly efficient in terms of water usage. Vegetables that thrive in warm conditions, including courgettes, tomatoes, and sweetcorn, are benefiting from the extended period of high light and temperature. However, it's crucial not to allow mature courgettes and cucumbers to remain on the plants, as they inhibit further flowering and fruiting. Outdoor tomato plants should have their tops pinched off to stop additional blooming, as the fruits developed now are unlikely to ripen before colder weather arrives. Growth slows significantly in September due to shorter days and cooler temperatures. Pumpkins and squash, often thought to require substantial water, actually have lower demands given their broad leaves. Nevertheless, periodic watering still proves beneficial. Mature pumpkins and squash should be harvested around mid-September instead of earlier, ensuring optimal storage conditions. Despite the intense heat and sunlight, these fruits are likely to maintain good quality, although they may be smaller than typical. Greens and salad crops have faced considerable challenges throughout the summer. The best course of action is to ensure consistent watering and monitor for pests such as cabbage caterpillars. Kale has performed notably better than other green vegetables this season. Now is the ideal time to sow short rows of lettuces, chicory, and endive. These rows are manageable in size, allowing for regular irrigation. By the time some rainfall occurs, these seedlings can be transplanted into autumn crops. Any remaining plants can be used as young leaves. Runner beans exhibit a tendency to drop their flowers when the soil becomes dry. Even varieties bred for resistance to this issue show limited success. Climbing French beans display lesser susceptibility to this problem. Dwarf French beans sown now could provide a harvest in October in southern regions. Apples and pears have benefited from the bright, warm conditions, resulting in exceptionally sweet fruits. While some trees may have dropped their fruit due to stress, and a few early apples might be overly ripe and unpalatable, most should offer satisfactory yields despite their early ripening. Autumn-fruiting raspberries are already producing a full crop, leaving little or no fruit for the fall. The current berries, however, are noted for their exceptional sweetness.