19 Best Heat Tolerant Vegetables for Full Sun | Warm Season Vegetables

Sheri Dorn is a versatile homesteader and culinary artist with a strong focus on organic and heirloom gardening. Holding a Master's degree in Culinary Arts, she combines her love for cooking and gardening in a unique way. Sheri is an active contributor to online gardening communities and enjoys quality outdoor time with her family and pets.
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Looking for warm-season crops that can easily tolerate temperatures above 100 F? Grow these Heat Tolerant Vegetables.

If you live in a hot climate (USDA Zones 9-11) or somewhere where temperatures soar above 100 F (38 C) or looking for vegetables that thrive in the harsh summer sun, then grow these Heat Tolerant Vegetables. You can grow them in pots on your balcony, rooftop, or patio or enjoy them in raised beds and vegetable patches in your garden.

Check out some heat-tolerant flowers here


Heat Tolerant Vegetable Plants

1. Tomato

Best Heat Tolerant Vegetables 1

Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum

Tomatoes love warm weather and do particularly well in the hot sun, and you can enjoy them fresh and homegrown in your recipes and salads by growing them in a sunny spot. When grown at the temperature above 95 F (35 C), fruits’ pigment change to orange from red.

Learn how to grow tomato as a tree here

2. Eggplant

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Botanical Name: Solanum melongena

Eggplant or Aubergine is another perfect extreme heat-tolerant vegetable plant. You can fry, bake, or cook it in curries and other mouthwatering dishes. The best part is a couple of plants in pots can provide plenty for the entire family. 

Learn how to grow eggplant in pots here

3. Okra

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Botanical Name: Abelmoschus esculentus

While many plants wilt in the summer heat, Okra or Lady Finger does exceptionally well in the soaring temperature. You can enjoy Okra in stir-fries, salads, pickles, and other side dishes.

Learn about growing okra in pots here

4. Basil

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Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum

Basil is the un-crowned king of herbs, and you can grow it easily on a sunny windowsill, a balcony, rooftop, or a patio without worrying about the sun. It will thrive just fine! What’s more? The more you’ll harvest, the bushier it will become. 

Get the best basil harvesting tips here

5. Yardlong Beans

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Botanical Name: Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis

You can grow these beans in the super hot summer months without worrying about them wilting away. The best part is that it can also provide shade to other plants that do not thrive well in direct sunlight. 

6. Sweet Potatoes

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Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas

Sweet Potatoes do best only when the temperature goes hot, making them perfect for someone who lives in a warm climate. The heat and warmth make underground veggies taste sweeter and grow better.

Learn how to grow sweet potatoes at home here

7. Malabar Spinach 

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Botanical Name: Basella alba

Malabar spinach is a nutrient-rich perennial vegetable that you can grow easily in your backyard or small balcony. You can use it in salad recipes, fritters, soups, or tasty side dishes. 

Check out how to grow Malabar spinach in pots here

8. New Zealand Spinach

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Botanical Name: Tetragonia tetragonioides

New Zealand Spinach is not technically a Spinach, but it can produce tasty, nutritious leafy greens, which you can enjoy in salads, steamed, sauteed, and curries. It loves heat like no other and grows best in USDA zones 8 to 11.

9. Chilies

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Botanical Name: Capsicum frutescens

The famous Indian spices and curry dishes are incomplete without chilies. You can grow this heat-tolerant vegetable in your garden or a kitchen windowsill to spice up most dishes.

Learn the best tips to make chilies hotter here

10. Sweet Peppers

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Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum Group

Bell Peppers are super easy to grow during the hotter months. They take significantly less space and provide plentiful harvest per pot. You can enjoy them in pizza, salads, sandwiches, stews, and other home-cooked meals.

Get the best bell pepper growing guide here

11. Cucumber

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shutterstock/Ja Crispy

 

Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus

Plant cucumbers in your garden or house them in large pots on your balcony or patio garden and watch them climb and produce luscious homegrown cucumbers in no time.

They do best in full sun and moist soil and you can learn everything about growing them here.

Check out the best cucumber varieties here

12. Sweet Corn

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Botanical Name: Zea mays convar. saccharata

Another summer veggie that you can grow with ease is corn. It requires minimal care and tastes great in salads, soups, pizzas, wraps, and many side dishes. You can grow it in a small section or employ some pots. 

Learn everything about growing corn in containers here

13. Black Eyed Pea

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Botanical Name: Vigna unguiculata

Also known as cowpeas, these beans are easy to grow and do well in hot climates. You can relish them as a delicious side dish, stir-fries, in stews, and in salads. Dedicate a small section of your garden to grow them, or you can also grow them in medium-sized pots.

14. Common Beans

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Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Common beans come in large varieties, are productive, take less space, and easily grow in a sunny spot on a balcony or a patio. The more sun they get, the more you will harvest!

15. Zucchini

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Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo

This versatile mild vegetable is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Start seeds early and transplant them into the garden in spring or summer. Both summer and winter varieties grow best in the heat.

Learn about growing zucchini in pots here

16. Lima Beans

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Botanical Name: Phaseolus lunatus

Lima beans are heat-tolerant legumes that you can grow in the hottest of months. Both pole or bush types can be grown in well-draining, loose, warm soil. They taste delicious in curries!

17. Tomatillos

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Botanical Name: Physalis philadelphica

Also known as husk tomatoes, they are small and green vegetables that taste remarkably well in salads and can be used as pizza toppings. They are disease-resistant and thrive in warm and sunny weather.

18. Pumpkin

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Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo

Pumpkins, like Seminole, can be planted in humid and warm environments. Select the sunniest spot of your garden and grow them. You have to take care of the watering, and soon you’ll have big ones for Halloween!

Learn all about growing pumpkins here

19. Sponge Gourd

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Botanical Name: Luffa cylindrica

If you want to try something earthy that tastes different yet amazing, try growing luffa. It does well in warm months, and you can enjoy them after lightly grilling them in olive oil. Also, there are many South Asian recipes you can try.

Check out our article 15 Beautiful Flowers that Start With “H” here


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3 COMMENTS

  1. Some of those I know of do NOT like the full blast of afternoon sun in the heat of summer (95f+) Tomatoes and bell peppers will get hot spots on them. So, they need to be provided some shade during the hottest time of day.

    • I second this! I live where it it very hot/dry in midsummer, and our tomatoes simply stop producing fruit when it gets into the upper 90’s, then start producing when the blistering August heat gives way to September. I’ve read that they won’t set fruit above 85 degrees, so a simple shade might help.

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