Is square foot gardening suitable for hot climates?
Written by
Nguyen Minh
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Square foot gardening is the best in warm climates with modifications to be appropriate to hot climates. My clients in Phoenix produce year-round harvests by growing with shade cloth and choosing the right plants. One gardener grew okra and beans that are tolerant to hot weather at 110°F! That shows you the heat will not defeat a good plan.
Heat Mitigation
- Install 40% shade cloth 18" above crops
- Mulch with 3" straw to reduce soil temps by 15°F
- White plastic mulch reflects excess sunlight
Variety Selection
- Black Seeded Simpson lettuce bolts 14 days later than standard types
- Sun Gold tomatoes set fruit above 90°F
- Red Malabar spinach thrives where others wilt
Water Management
- Drip lines with 12" spacing prevent crusting
- Water at 5 AM to reduce evaporation by 30%
- Add hydrogel crystals to soil mix for drought periods
Soil depth is important when it comes to heat. My 12" deep beds help protect the roots from soil surface scorch. I recommend lining the beds with insulation boards. One Texas client used insulation to reduce root zone temperature by 18°F. Finally, consider adding vermiculite to the soil as this will help to retain moisture without black land on blackthe substrate.
Schedule planting in advance of heat waves. Sow Sicilian eggplant eight weeks before the peak of summer. Utilize some vertical shading, preferably growing sunflowers on the west side of the planting grids. One gardener in Las Vegas extended her kale season by six weeks using this sun-blocking method.
Read the full article: Ultimate Square Foot Gardening Guide: Maximize Your Harvest
