If you thought you couldn’t have a well-rounded garden because your location lacks shade, think again.
There’s a list a mile-long of sun-loving vegetables and herbs that enjoy hot sunny spots. So before you throw in the towel on your garden planning, take a look at this list of full-sun loving plants.
1. Okra
Okra is an ultimate must-have for hot, full-sun, gardens. It’s a southern favorite that thrives in heat and is extremely hardy, even in the driest conditions.
2. Melons
While melons are considered a fruit, they can’t be left off this list. Watermelons, honeydew, and cantaloupe love the heat and the sun. And as long as you leave enough space between your melon mounds, they’ll grow far and wide and take in all the sun they can get.
3. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are the unsung hero of the sun-loving family. They grow fast and thrive in heat, in fact, this sweet garden plant prefers the sun.
4. Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a full-sun squash that does its best grown in the heat and bright summer sun. Your pumpkins will be ready to shine when the days get shorter.
5. Green Beans
Green beans are an easy-to-grow full-sun veggie that’s also easy to can and delicious in the middle of winter. Make a few rows of this hardy green and stock up during a day-long canning session.
6. Jalapeno Peppers
If the sun is hot, then these peppers are happy. They grow well in full sun and enjoy the hot summer nights the most.
7. Zucchini
Another sun squash that makes our hot list is the Zucchini squash. A fast, abundant growing squash that soaks up any flavor you pair it with—this is a squash for every purpose. Use it in stir fry, as a spaghetti substitute, or to moisten your cakes.
8. Acorn Squash
Have you realized that squash loves the sun? Acorn is another fall favorite that does well in full sun. This is a beautifully aromatic squash that pairs well with turkey or any other hearty cold-weather meal.
9. Eggplant
If you’ve had trouble growing eggplant, check to see if it has enough sun and warm soil. This is a plant that struggles in the cooler climates and thrives in the heat. If you have a long summer where you live, you can cash in on this crop and make tons of eggplant pasta.
10. Cucumbers
The cuke fairs well in full sun, but care must be taken to ensure these pickles have plenty of moisture throughout the hot summer. Without plenty of water, a pickle is dry and loses its snap.
11. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are actually considered a fruit, but most people include them in their vegetable garden. And this juicy fruit loves the hot summer sun. Sun-ripened tomatoes are the best with some cottage cheese, on a BLT, or grab ‘em before they ripen and make some old fashioned fried green tomatoes.
12. Tomatillos
A close relative to the tomato is the tomatillo, and this little sun-lover is a poppable treat to enjoy after jumping out of the pool. The tomatillo has a long lifespan on the vine and will give you abundance if you give them what they crave…the sun.
13. Corn
Maize is the last veggie on this list, and it’s probably one of the most popular full-sun plants for small-time farmers and commercial farmers due to the minimal amount of maintenance required. This veggie needs a lot of water to keep its kernels plump, but the hotter the weather, the faster the corn grows.
Sun-loving Herbs
You’ve got a pretty good salad with the fruits and veggies on this list, but where would you be without some veggies to season them with?
This list is your cheat sheet for sun-loving herbs that are hardy and have-to haves:
So when you plan your garden, this time around, make sure you put this list of sun-loving vegetables and herbs in the sunniest spot possible in your garden. And come harvest time, you’ll have refreshing veggies to eat straight from the garden.
