Look, I'll be honest with you. Last summer, my greenhouse turned into what my neighbor called "a vegetable torture chamber." The thermometer hit 38°C, and I watched my poor lettuce basically melt. Not pretty.
But here's what I learned after talking to seasoned gardeners from Ljubljana to Graz: some vegetables actually love this heat. Who would've thought? After two seasons of trial and error (okay, mostly error), I've figured out which ones will save your sanity when those scorching July days hit.
If you're dealing with Slovenia's continental heat waves, Austria's surprising summer temperatures, or Croatia's Mediterranean intensity, these five vegetables will be your best friends. Trust me on this one.
1. Tomatoes - But Not Just Any Tomatoes
Everyone grows tomatoes, right? Well, here's the thing - not all tomatoes are created equal when it comes to heat. I learned this the hard way when my beloved 'Beefsteak' varieties gave up the ghost during that brutal heat wave we had two summers ago.
The varieties that actually work:
- 'Stupice' - This Czech variety is basically bulletproof. Seriously, it keeps producing even when everything else is wilting.
- 'Cherokee Purple' - Yeah, it's an heirloom, but it handles heat surprisingly well
- 'Phoenix' - The name says it all, doesn't it?
Here's what I do now: I keep my greenhouse between 24-29°C during the day. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people forget about ventilation. Those automatic vent openers? Best investment I ever made.
One tip from my Croatian friend Marko: use that shade cloth during the worst heat (usually 11 AM to 4 PM around here). About 30% shade works perfectly. Don't go overboard - tomatoes still need their light.
Reality check: You'll get about 7-12 kg per plant if you do this right. Maybe more if you're lucky.
2. Peppers - The Obvious Choice (But Still Worth Mentioning)
Okay, this might seem obvious since peppers come from hot places, but hear me out. Not all pepper varieties are greenhouse-friendly. Some get leggy, some don't set fruit properly in enclosed spaces.
What works in our climate:
- 'Fehérözön' - This Hungarian variety is fantastic for our region
- 'Chocolate Beauty' - Weird name, great pepper. Brown color looks unique at the market too
- 'Tabasco' - If you like it hot, this one keeps producing all summer long
Temperature-wise, I keep things between 21-29°C. Peppers are funny - they actually like it a bit more humid than you'd expect. Sometimes I'll mist the paths (not the plants) to bump up humidity.
Pro tip I picked up from an Austrian grower: hand-pollinate your peppers with a small brush. Sounds tedious, but it really helps with fruit set, especially during those windless hot days.
3. Cucumbers - The Tricky Ones
Now, cucumbers... they're a bit of a paradox. They need warmth but hate being too hot. Confusing, I know. But get this right, and you'll have more cucumbers than you know what to do with.
Varieties that don't give up:
- 'Marketmore 76' - Reliable as a Škoda. Never lets me down.
- 'Suyo Long' - This Asian variety is actually happier in warm weather
- 'Diva' - No pollination needed, which is great when bees are being lazy in the heat
Keep your greenhouse around 24-29°C, but here's the trick: humidity. Cucumbers love it humid - 60-70% if you can manage it. I've got a simple misting system that kicks in during the hottest part of the day.
Water them consistently. I mean it. Miss a day or two, and you'll get bitter cucumbers. Not fun.
4. Eggplant - The Underrated Champion
Honestly, I don't know why more people don't grow eggplant here. Maybe it's because they think it's too exotic? But these plants absolutely love greenhouse heat.
Varieties I've had success with:
- 'Black Beauty' - Classic, reliable
- 'Ichiban' - Japanese variety, produces those long thin eggplants
- 'Rosa Bianca' - Beautiful Italian variety, looks almost too pretty to eat
Eggplants can handle temperatures up to 32°C. Sometimes I think they're happier when it's really hot than when it's just warm, if that makes sense.
Water them deeply but not too often. They're surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. Oh, and harvest regularly - if you let the fruits get too big, the plant stops producing.
5. Okra - The Heat Champion Nobody Talks About
Okay, this one might surprise you. Okra isn't exactly traditional in our region, but it should be. This plant laughs at heat that would kill other vegetables.
Worth trying:
- 'Clemson Spineless' - No prickly pods, thank goodness
- 'Red Burgundy' - Gorgeous red stems, looks almost ornamental
- 'Perkins Long Pod' - Productive variety, handles heat like a champ
Okra can handle temperatures up to 35°C. Yes, really. And it doesn't need much water once it gets going. Perfect for those summers when you're dealing with water restrictions.
Harvest the pods when they're 5-10 cm long. Let them get bigger, and they become too tough to eat.
Making It All Work (The Practical Stuff)
Here's what I've learned about managing a hot greenhouse:
Ventilation is everything. I can't stress this enough. Those automatic vent openers I mentioned? Get them. They're worth every euro.
Shade cloth saves lives. Vegetable lives, anyway. Deploy it during the hottest part of the day.
Water in the morning. Evening watering in a hot greenhouse can create humidity problems. Trust me on this one.
Use thermal mass. Old water containers, concrete blocks, whatever. They help moderate those crazy temperature swings we get.
The Timeline That Actually Works
June: Get your heat management sorted. Install whatever systems you need.
July-August: Harvest time! Keep picking regularly to keep plants producing.
September: Still harvesting, but start thinking about what worked and what didn't for next year.
The Bottom Line
Look, summers here are getting hotter. Last year in Ljubljana, we hit 40°C. That's just reality now. But instead of fighting it, why not work with it?
These five vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, and okra - will keep producing even when your outdoor garden looks like a disaster zone.
Seriously, don't spend another summer watching your vegetables suffer. These seeds are specifically chosen for our climate. Your future self will thank you when you're harvesting fresh vegetables in August while your neighbors are buying expensive imported produce.
