What are Janis Elspas's top summer gardening tips for organic vegetables?

Build healthy soil first: Use composted kitchen scraps and yard waste regularly. My small raised bed “bears heavily” because I constantly amend it with compost.

Choose heat-loving, disease-resistant varieties, especially heirloom tomatoes for summer and BBQ season.

Use raised beds if you can; they warm up faster, drain well, and are easier to manage organically.

Mulch generously to keep roots cool, conserve moisture, and suppress weeds—straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings work well.

Water deeply and consistently at the base of plants, ideally in the morning, to reduce stress and disease.