Summer Planting Guide (July–October): Lettuce, Tomatoes & Cucumbers

Grow Your Best Summer Greenhouse Crops — July Through October

The July–October window demands the right varieties for heat tolerance, disease resistance, and consistent yield. Here are our picks across lettuce, tomato, and cucumber — plus key planting tips to keep your program on track.

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🥬 Lettuce

Lettuce Planting Tips

• Target day temps of 72–78°F; use 30–40% shade cloth during peak July–August radiation.
• Increase calcium and potassium in your EC program to reduce tip burn as temperatures peak.
• Stagger transplant dates every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest through October.

Muir Greenleaf Lettuce (Batavia) — Pelleted

A heat-tolerant Batavia greenleaf with crisp texture and uniform head weight. Reliable through summer and into the fall transition.

• Type: Greenleaf (Batavia)
• Seed form: Pelleted
• Best for: Hydroponic channels, NFT, media-bed systems
• Key trait: Heat tolerance, crisp texture, uniform weight

Rex F1 Butterhead Lettuce — Pelleted (Untreated)

Soft, pliable butterhead with strong tip-burn resistance. Untreated seed is compatible with organic and IPM programs.

• Type: Butterhead
• Seed form: Pelleted, Untreated
• Best for: Living lettuce, organic programs, clamshell retail
• Key trait: Tip-burn resistance, soft texture, IPM-compatible

Tacitus F1 Romaine Lettuce — Pelleted

Upright romaine with excellent bolt resistance and a well-formed heart. Holds quality through late summer and early fall.

• Type: Romaine
• Seed form: Pelleted
• Best for: Retail-ready heads, clamshell pack programs
• Key trait: Bolt resistance, tight heart, shelf life
• Season fit: Strong through late summer and early fall

Browse Butterhead Varieties  |  Browse Romaine Varieties  |  Browse Oakleaf & Greenleaf Varieties

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🍅 Tomatoes

Tomato Planting Tips

• Target day temps of 75–82°F; monitor for ToBRFV pressure and scout weekly for mites and thrips.
• Consider grafting onto a vigorous rootstock to improve plant health through the long summer cycle.
• Begin adjusting EC and temperature set points in September as light levels drop heading into October.

Geronimo F1 Beefsteak Tomato

A proven industry benchmark. Exceptional fruit uniformity and generative balance through summer heat.

• Type: Beefsteak
• Best for: Long-season greenhouse programs, premium retail
• Key trait: Fruit uniformity, generative balance, proven reliability
• Season fit: Designed for high-pressure summer environments

Red Deuce F1 Beefsteak Tomato — Pelleted

High internal color, firmness, and brix consistency. A strong choice for premium retail and foodservice programs.

• Type: Beefsteak
• Seed form: Pelleted
• Best for: Premium retail, foodservice supply
• Key trait: Internal color, firmness, brix consistency
• Season fit: Reliable July through October harvest windows

DRTH5075 F1 Beefsteak Tomato (ToBRFV)

Full ToBRFV resistance for high-pressure summer environments. Large, firm fruit with excellent shipping and shelf performance.

• Type: Beefsteak
• Resistance: ToBRFV (full)
• Best for: Export programs, high-pressure virus environments
• Key trait: ToBRFV resistance, fruit size consistency
• Season fit: Critical for summer virus pressure peaks

Browse All Beefsteak Tomato Varieties

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🥒 Cucumbers

Cucumber Planting Tips

• Target day temps of 75–82°F; maintain strong parthenocarpy conditions with consistent humidity management.
• Scout weekly for spider mites and powdery mildew — both escalate rapidly in warm, dry summer conditions.
• Consider grafting for improved vigor and soilborne disease tolerance in long summer production cycles.

Corinto F1 Slicer Cucumber (Treated)

Smooth, dark-green slicer with strong disease resistance and consistent fruit set through summer heat.

• Type: Slicer
• Seed form: Treated
• Best for: Retail slicer programs, foodservice
• Key trait: Disease resistance, fruit uniformity, summer heat tolerance

Splash F1 Mini Cucumber (Untreated)

Top-performing mini cucumber with exceptional early yield, uniform sizing, and long shelf life. IPM and organic compatible.

• Type: Mini / Snacking
• Seed form: Untreated
• Best for: Retail snack packs, organic programs
• Key trait: Early yield, uniform sizing, long shelf life
• Season fit: Peak performance July–October

Verdon F1 Long Dutch Cucumber (Treated)

Strong parthenocarpy and heat-stable fruit set. Maintains skin quality and fruit length through the summer-to-fall window.

• Type: Long Dutch
• Seed form: Treated
• Best for: Premium retail, wholesale distribution
• Key trait: Parthenocarpy, heat-stable fruit set, skin quality
• Season fit: Consistent through summer and early fall

Browse Mini Cucumber Varieties  |  Browse Long English Cucumber Varieties  |  Browse All Greenhouse Cucumbers

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Questions about variety selection or summer program planning? Contact our agronomy team — we’re here to help you build the right July–October lineup for your operation.