July Garden Tidbits: Veggies and More

Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar. ~Bradley Miller

I don't know about where you live but our weather has been crazy! We had several days of high humidity last week where it was close to 100 F., then it cooled off and barely made it into the 60's. I had to watch my beds carefully where I'd sowed seeds because even with some rain, they dried out quickly. If you have areas of your landscape that are in full sun and in wide open spaces they made need to be watered more often in windy, dry weather, but more sheltered areas, especially in partial shade, can often be left alone.

Even in the north you can still sow seeds of vegetables that will have time to grow, such as beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, radishes, and greens. You'll want to look for vegetables, herbs, flowers etc that will mature in 60 days or less. Keep the seeds watered well as per the instructions on the seed packets. It's especially important when the days are hot and windy.

From the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office: *Cutting flowers is best done with sharp shears or a knife which will help avoid injury to the growing plant. A slanting cut will expose a larger absorbing surface to water and will prevent the base of the stem from resting on the bottom of the vase. It is best to carry a bucket of water to the garden for collecting flowers, rather than a cutting basket.

This time of year we mainly stay concerned about our plants in the garden, but shrubs also need care. If you receive less than an inch of rain in a two week period and the temperatures have passed 85 degrees, then they probably need a drink. It's better to water deeply, which will encourage roots to grow deep. It's healthier for the shrub. Using a sprinkler you can set out a rain gauge or a tin can and water until you have 2-3 inches of water collected.

OFL has tips on controlling those pesky Japanese Beetles:
http://oldfashionedliving.com/beetles.html