During the past few months of quarantining and social distancing, many people have rekindled (or newly sparked) an interest in gardening. As a fun family activity that teaches patience and diligence, growing a summer garden is a great way to get outside and spend time with the family this summer. We’ve compiled a list of four fruits & veggies that grow great in the summer heat — and some ideas for how to serve them in your clean kitchen!
- Cucumbers
These green veggies are a summer garden staple. They just require moist, fertile soil, and in about 50 to 70 days, you’ll have enough to try a variety of recipes!
What to Make: Whip out your garlic, dill seed & red pepper flakes to make your own dill pickles! Make the brine by bringing vinegar, water, and salt to a boil, and put it in the jar alongside the seasonings and your homegrown cucumbers, sliced however you prefer. - Sweet Potatoes
In about 90 days, sweet potatoes will be ready to harvest. Plus, these yams are relatively low-maintenance once the vines start growing!
What to Make: Take your taters to the chopping board and make some homemade sweet potato fries. Slice the potatoes into wedges, then drizzle with olive oil and your favorite seasonings (we like garlic!). You can bake them in the oven, or pop them in your air fryer and they’re ready to go! - Melons
What summer barbecue is complete without a juicy watermelon? They taste even better when you grow them yourself. Make sure you leave plenty of room in your garden for your honeydew, cantaloupe, or watermelon to thrive. Cantaloupes are the fastest growing, while some varieties of watermelon may take up to 115 days!
What to Make: Combine your fresh watermelon with feta cheese and mint to make a delicious watermelon feta salad. Bonus points if your mint also comes from your garden! Dress with olive oil and either lemon or lime juice. If you don’t like mint, try adding some diced red onions! - Peppers
You can grow sweet peppers or hot peppers in the summer! Both can be harvested around 60 to 95 days after planting.
What to Make: While we love a little spice, our recipe of choice would be to turn your bell peppers into stuffed bell peppers. There are dozens of variations of this recipe out there, but at its core, you slice your peppers in half and hollow them out, and then fill them with the ingredients you desire (and lots of cheese!) Our favorites include diced tomatoes, rice, and Monterey Jack cheese. And don’t forget to top with parsley, another easy garden-grown treat!
A backyard garden is a great place to learn, discover, and bond with your family. The best part is that you can tend to your patch without needing to worry about tending to your chores inside the house. Maid Right can provide a thorough, detailed clean of your home and your kitchen so you can get outside more, and clean less. Call (855) MAID-RIGHT for a free estimate today!
