Garden Heatwave: How to Care for Heat-Stressed Plants

Extreme summer heat can be as exhausting for our plants as it is for us, but you can make life easier for them by deploying a few simple strategies.

By using smart watering techniques, providing shade and removing other stressors you can help keep those harvests coming, even during very hot, dry weather.

In this short video we’ll share five tried and tested ways to take the stress out of the heatwave for your plants.

If you love growing your own food, why not take a look at our online Garden Planner which is available from several major websites and seed suppliers:
and many more...

[SmallGardenQuest]

When watering I do it in passes. Rather then one big pass I do it 3-4 times with 1 minute brakes in between. That way more water is absorbed in the soil rather then just running down the same crack.
Great video!

[Daniel-nfpp]

I have old window screens and repurpose them for shading the plants from the afternoon 🌞 sun. I'll prune heavily to reduce the heat stress. ✌

[cristinaharding]

This advice was definitely needed in Riverside, California! Thank you!!

[carolschedler]

Thank you for showing aged and bug damaged crops!  Every garden has some!   I learn more seeing the good AND the ugly!   Thanks for your tips!

[Loreli]

It's hot in Cali & I cover the delicate plants!

[andrewkliss]

Very timely vid for our current heatwave here in the Southwest U.S. Thanx!

[celan]

Summer in the Carolinas, when the garden bakes to a crisp but the weeds grow tall as trees. Thanks for the tips, I am going to use the "bury the pot" one.

[cmenowOn]

I’m in Alabama and my peppers are taking a beating, this is right on time!!

[spinningkat]

I put up a shade tunnel for my lettuce and radishes so that they are not overwhelmed, even during the hottest heat wave so I can have salad all summer long. Works quite well.

[samanthatrujillo]

Your video came at the perfect time as Southern California is getting very warm! I recently lost my strawberries to the extreme heat 😫 I'll use these tips to save the rest of my garden cuties. Thanks!

[RelentlessHomesteading]

Timely advice - Thankyou.
I sometimes give them a mist on a hot afternoon - seems to perk them up.

[mindytoujours]

Wow thanks I'll make a sun shade.

[GrowWildOutdoors]

Tried and true tips, thank you for sharing! Mulching with hearty wood chips, creating 'water bowls, ' and watering in the morning are already in practice - always looking for more so we can enjoy summer vacations instead of worrying about the plants all season. I'll add the sunken pots and shades as needed. Thank you!

[royaleclay]

Thank you so much for sharing those creative tips!

[allythescot]

Great advice on watering, People are never really sure they have got it right

[nibzizintit]

Just wanted to say brilliant channel and thank you for all the tips!

[maryblacker]

Thanks, I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was happening to my green beans. Dropping their flowers answers that even tho I 'thought' I was watering enuff.

[chantelcorless]

Wow what a wonderful clip and some very helpful advice. I live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and its particularly hot this year.

[cathyann]

It's only May and temps here are close to 90°F. It's usually only in the 70s. My tomatoes are in a slightly raised bed and I'm worried about them. I saw your video and I'll have to make shade for them. I put 12 plants aside to give to my daughter and they're doing really well. They're only getting the morning and early afternoon sun. I waited forever for the temps to get warm enough and now that I planted, we have a heat wave! Thanks

[NMew]

Long time fan, first time commenting - I hail from Sunny South Africa and I love GrowVeg! Your tips are always helpful, i love making use of partial shade nets or planting big bushy crops next to smaller vegetables that may need more shade. I love growing little rows of lettuce and flanking them by rows of sweet peas. The two just compliment each other while growing. I am also a big fan of using chille plants as little bushy borders for my raised beds as I've read they're supposed to improve drainage in the soil and I love those eye-catching chille flowers, they always attract beneficial bugs to the raised beds. It gets incredibly hot around here, especially in the summer peaks. I will be putting your advice to good use this season!