Best Seeds to Plant in Spring and Summer
Every growing season starts with a decision. What do you plant? Which seeds are worth the space? What will grow well in your conditions and give you something useful by the end of the season?
In South Africa, the main planting window for warm-season crops runs from September to February. That is when the soil has warmed up, the nights are no longer cold and the rain (when it comes) supports fast growth. This is the window we plant in at Raikana Primary School in Pretoria.
This article covers four crops we are working with in spring and summer: squash, okra, sugar beans and groundnuts. Some are for fresh eating, some for drying, some for storage. Each seed needs a different preparation before it goes into the ground, and each one brings something different to the garden. If you want to see how we grew our onion crop, I covered that in growing onions: what matters from seedling to cure.
In This Article
- Why these four crops
- Squash seeds: drying them first
- Okra seeds: soaking before planting
- Sugar beans: a reliable staple
- Groundnuts: a different kind of crop
- Preparing the beds
- What I have learned from seed selection
Why These Four Crops
The crops we chose for spring and summer are not random. Each one has a role in the garden and in the kitchen.
Squash gives you a large harvest from a single plant and stores well through the cooler months. Okra is a fast-growing summer crop that keeps producing pods as long as you keep picking. Sugar beans are a reliable staple that can be eaten fresh or dried. Groundnuts are a protein-rich crop that works well in small spaces.
Together, these four crops cover fresh eating, drying, storage and soil health. That variety is what makes a home garden useful, not just productive.
Squash Seeds: Dry Them First
Squash seeds are best planted from dried seed saved from a previous season. The seeds we used were scooped from a mature squash, cleaned and left to dry before being stored.
The drying process is important. Fresh seeds straight from the fruit contain moisture, and if they are planted immediately, they are more likely to rot than germinate. Drying the seeds for a week or two in a shaded, airy spot removes that moisture and prepares them for storage.
Once dried, squash seeds can be stored in a cool, dark place for years and still germinate well. We keep ours in a paper envelope or a small jar, labelled with the variety and the date.
Okra Seeds: Soak Before Planting
Okra seeds have a hard outer shell that makes germination slow. To speed up the process, we soak the seeds in water before planting.
The soaking softens the shell and triggers the seed to break dormancy. We place the seeds in a small container of water and leave them for 12 to 24 hours. By the end of that period, some of the seeds have started to swell, and a few will have already produced tiny white sprouts.
Once the seeds have soaked, they should be planted immediately. Do not leave them in water too long, or they will start to rot. If you are not ready to plant, drain the water and keep the seeds in a damp cloth for no more than a day.
Sugar Beans: A Reliable Staple
Sugar beans are one of the most useful crops in a home garden. They grow quickly, produce heavily and can be eaten fresh as green beans or left to dry for storage.
The seeds we planted are speckled and kidney-shaped, with a mottled beige and brown pattern. They came from a bag of dried beans that had been saved from a previous crop.
Before planting, we check each seed for damage. Seeds that are cracked, shrivelled or discoloured are unlikely to germinate well, so we set them aside. Only the firm, well-formed seeds go into the ground.
Sugar beans do not need any special treatment before planting. They germinate quickly in warm soil and grow fast once they are established.
Groundnuts: A Different Kind of Crop
Groundnuts, also called peanuts, are a protein-rich crop that grows differently from most vegetables. The plant flowers above ground, then sends a peg down into the soil where the nut develops underground.
We planted raw groundnuts from a bag of unshelled nuts. The nuts were still in their shells, which protects them until planting. Before planting, we shelled the nuts and checked each one for damage.
Groundnuts need loose, sandy soil so the pegs can push down easily. They also need steady moisture through the season, especially during flowering and pod formation.
The crop takes about four to five months to mature. When the leaves start to yellow and the plants begin to lift slightly from the soil, it is time to check the nuts. We will harvest ours when the shells feel firm and the seeds inside are fully formed.
Preparing the Beds
All four crops will go into beds that have been prepared in the same way we prepare the rest of the garden. The soil is loosened, any old roots and rocks are removed, and the surface is levelled.
Each bed is then fed with chicken feather fertilizer, which releases nitrogen slowly through the season. The beds are then covered with grass mulch to hold moisture and suppress weeds.
Squash and beans need the most space, so they go into the wider beds. Okra and groundnuts can be planted a little closer together. All four crops benefit from a thick mulch layer, especially in the heat.
What I Have Learned From Seed Selection
Choosing what to plant is not just about what you like to eat. It is about what will grow well in your conditions and what will give you the most value from the space. Here is what I have learned from preparing these four crops:
-
Drying and soaking matter.
Squash seeds need to be dried before storage. Okra seeds need to be soaked before planting. Small steps make a big difference in germination. -
Inspect every seed.
Cracked, shrivelled or discoloured seeds are unlikely to germinate well. Only firm, well-formed seeds go into the ground. -
Match the crop to the soil.
Groundnuts need loose, sandy soil. Beans and squash grow well in rich, well-drained beds. Okra tolerates a wider range of conditions. -
Think about what the crop will give you.
Fresh eating, drying, storage, soil health. Each crop has a role. A good garden covers all of them. -
Prepare the bed before you plant.
Loose soil, a slow-release feed like feather compost and a thick mulch layer give every seed the best chance to grow. -
Keep records.
Write down which seeds you planted, when you planted them and how they grew. Next season, you will know what worked and what did not.
Gardening Lesson
A good harvest starts with good seed selection.
Dry your squash seeds, soak your okra seeds, inspect your beans and shell your groundnuts carefully. Match each crop to the right bed and give it the best start possible. The rest is patience.
Soshanguve, Pretoria, South Africa
Growing Knowledge. Growing Food.