Avoid These Plants This Summer: What Not to Grow in the Heat of the Season

Leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and lettuce are cool-season crops. In summer, they tend to bolt quickly—meaning they go to seed and turn bitter almost overnight. You might be tempted to throw some in for a salad garden, but unless you're in a cooler climate or using shade cloth and careful watering, they’ll likely disappoint. Swiss chard and kale can handle a bit more heat, but even they struggle during peak summer. It’s best to wait until fall to get the most out of your leafy crops.

Summer is not the time for plants with high water needs—unless you enjoy dragging the hose around every day. Hydrangeas, for example, may look beautiful, but they wilt easily and require tons of water to stay happy in the heat. Similarly, fuchsia and impatiens are known to struggle in full sun and require a lot of care to avoid sunburn and stress. These high-maintenance plants are better off in early spring or shady, cooler areas where they’re not constantly battling the elements.

Certain vegetables and flowers just aren't made for summer. Peas, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts prefer the chill of early spring or fall. If planted in summer, they either won’t grow at all or will become stressed and produce poorly. Likewise, flowers like pansies and violas may bloom beautifully in spring but fade fast in the heat. Knowing when *not* to plant is just as important as knowing what *to* grow—and avoiding the wrong ones in summer saves time, water, and garden space for plants that actually thrive.