I'm part of a community garden, and I got my first plot this year - I've got it full of tomatoes, squash, brussels sprouts, etc that are all doing just fine.

BUT, I asked them to let me know if they had any other plots so I could plant more sprawly things like watermelons. I just got a note that they have one I can use the rest of the season.

It's 20x25 feet big. I haven't been over there to look at it but most of them have pretty good soil and drainage. What can I plant that will still produce for the summer? Is there any hope for melons or pumpkins or is it too late? The garden store's plants are getting a little rootbound at this point so I don't know if that's setting myself up for failure.

Bottom line - whatever I'm putting in needs to be there this weekend. What do you recommend?

I am 7b also and there is a lot that I can plant now, but your 7b may be different!

I linked my EXT below if that will help.

Rodney

Do you need it to all produce during the summer, or are you open to fall crops, too?

I don't know about melons/pumpkins in your zone -- but you may do better with seeds than the rootbound plants.

One thing you can plant now and get harvests in September, and that takes a lot of room is sweet corn.
Now that will impress the folks in your community garden!

If you can find sweet potato plants, they've still got time, and grow well in the heat.

I'll look forward to what those from your zone have to say.

http://offices.ext.vt.edu/alexandria/

Sorry to be so helpless - I'm new to this.

http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/VA/Alexandria

I am very open to fall crops (although I'm getting married this fall so I don't know how much time I'll have to tend to it during the fall).

I could happily fill half the plot with winter squash. Corn is a great idea too.

Thanks! Will research and report back.

Personally, I'd stick some seeds in the ground for the vining squash and melons and see what happens, and in the mean time plant some other stuff in between them in case they don't work.

Brainstorming . . .You can plant bush beans now, and basil. I still think the sweet corn is a fun idea (in a section of its own), but if you've got clay, like my parents do, the sweet potatoes might not work great.
I'm wondering if you can start fall hardy crops like kale, cabbage, kolrabi, turnips, (which I've never done in that zone -- does the heat mess them up?)

I found some decent looking cantaloupe starter packs yesterday and a few tomatoes that hadn't started fruiting, so I bought those. Plus a few other random plants that looked ok - an eggplant, a pepper, a few other things. I'll put all those in and start some hills of squash and watermelons. Hopefully I'll get something wtih all that. Of course my fear now is eveything comes in and I am overun with produce :)