Are you enjoying the “fruits of your
labor” from your vegetable garden this summer? With proper care, vegetable
gardens provide fresh produce well into the fall.
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| Watering 3-Sisters Garden with upright sprinkler |
Although we had too much rain in
June, July began quite dry. It is essential to keep plants watered
consistently during the heat of summer. On average, plants need one inch of
water per week and this may need to be stepped up to one inch every five days
during the heat of summer. Watering is the most important maintenance item, so
don't skimp on it. Soak the soil thoroughly to a depth of at least 6 inches
rather than sprinkling the garden lightly.
If you did not mulch in spring, consider
doing it now. Most vegetables benefit from mulching, including tomatoes,
cucumbers, melons, beans, and potatoes. Besides controlling weeds, the mulch
will save moisture, keep the soil temperature more even, and keep the fruits
clean. The many types of mulch include leaves, grass clippings, straw, cardboard, newspaper, and black plastic.
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| Straw mulch |
Pests are one the biggest frustration for
home vegetable gardeners. When possible, use disease-resistant varieties. Crop
rotation every 3 to 4 years is also very effective for many insect and diseases
problems. This is done by moving vegetable types to other areas of the garden
or yard.
New gardeners sometimes wonder when they
should begin harvesting their product. This varies from crop to crop, but there
are some tips that will help the produce stay fresh and tasty longer. Avoid
bruising or damaging them, because injury encourages decay. Most vegetables
last longer if they are place in cool storage immediately. In particular, sweet
corn loses its sweet flavor quickly if it is not cooled as soon as possible.
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| Arugula, Swiss card, cucumber, baby carrot, and yellow squash |
If you have harvested part of your garden,
now is the time to begin your fall garden. A fall garden extends your supply of
fresh vegetables. Unfortunately, a successful fall garden demands additional
work and planning at a time when you are busiest. Irrigation is usually
necessary and weeds grow quickly at this time. But the pleasure you can derive
from a fall garden far outweighs the extra effort involved in planning and
planting it.
The midsummer planting usually takes place
from July 10-20 and could include snap beans, beets, broccoli plants, cabbage
plants, carrot, cauliflower plants, and okra. From August 1-10 you could also
add many cool-crops such as lettuce, mustard greens, turnips, and winter
radishes. Spring radishes, spinach, and more leaf lettuce can go in as late as
August 25 to September 5.
How is your garden growing?
