Easy Livin'

July 2014

Pickaway to Garden

 

Easy Livin’

 

By Paul Hang

 

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy.” This line from the song in Porgy and Bess expresses the feeling in July. .After the frenzy of spring gardening chores July seems easy indeed.  All of our work is starting to pay off as blooms are at peak in July. Some vegetable gardeners are harvesting the bounty. July is early to mid-summer. By the end of the month days will be noticeably shorter. I hesitate to say it but we will also begin to experience hints of the coming Fall.  By the end of the month we will have lost over a half hour of daylight and the dog days will begin.

 

July is a month of blooms. Some of the plants in bloom we will see are: daisies, black-eyed Susans, clover, milkweed, bee balm, day lilies, elderberry, evening primrose, mullein, jewelweed, hawkweed, Queen Anne’s lace. wild chicory, fleabane, vervain, just to mention a lot. We haven’t mentioned vegetables ripening or nuts appearing on the trees and on TV. Golden rod and asters will come into bloom later and support over 100 species of moths and butterflies. This is in contrast to the much touted, and deservedly so, milkweed which supports 12 species including the iconic Monarch butterfly.

 

Before you get lulled into the hammock for the rest of the summer, I have a suggestion. For those who grow vegetables, consider a fall garden. Many vegetables grow best in cool weather. Beets, broccoli, collards, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels’ sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, parsnips, radicchio, Swiss chard and spinach are all good candidates for cool weather and fall harvest. These can be planted in early July. Other vegetables that grow well in cool weather but should be planted a little later because they mature quickly and don’t do well in heat, are: lettuce planted through August and September, carrots and radishes in September. Finally, garlic and shallot bulbs should be planted in September, October, and actually can be planted into November. There are also some other varieties of vegetables that can overwinter for harvesting in the spring.

 

Read your seed package for the number of days from planting to maturity and count back from October 11^th our average first frost date. With luck and protection most cool weather plants can survive frost.  A problem with starting seeds outside in hot dry weather can be addressed by starting them indoors or on the porch where you can keep them watered. Acclimate the seedlings to the sun before planting. Root crops are best started outside. Water well before planting and then don’t let the soil dry until germination then water as usual.

 

I have small sign in my garden which says, “Sorry you weren’t here last week, my garden was at its peak.” This pretty well expresses the situation. Gardens change almost daily. Things come into bloom and then fade. One period finds some plants in bloom and others fading. Yesterday peonies had our attention. Now the daylilies take the stage. Tomorrow hibiscus takes over. Enjoy your garden.

 

Support the Farmers Market at E. Franklin Street, Saturdays 8:30am to 12:30pm. Fresh produce, plants and flowers are for sale by local growers.

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

Look around your garden, do you see some bare spots? As I always say “If you can see mulch you don’t have enough plants.” Consider putting a perennial plant in those bare spots. They may be cheaper this time of year. Look for healthy ones.

 

This is the time to dry herbs. The best flavor is to harvest just before they flower. Pick on a sunny dry day and in the morning, if dry weather is forecast, so much the better. Hang them upside down in a hot, dry, dark, well ventilated spot in an attic, barn or shed. This is also the time to harvest garlic and hang them to dry and cure. Harvest when leaves are turning yellow but there are still one or two green leaves

 

The gardening season is in full swing. Weeding, deadheading and watering are high on the list of routine activities. If July turns out to be bone dry water the equivalent of one inch per week. Mulch to conserve moisture and keep down weeds. If you haven’t mulched yet do so after a soaking thunderstorm or a good watering. Vegetables higher in water content need more water e.g. watermelons vs. green beans.

 

Keep the lawn cut at 3 inches. If we get a long dry spell, don’t forget to water your compost heap. It needs to remain moist for fast decomposition.

 

Going on vacation? Water well before you leave. Place potted plants in a shady area. They should do fine for a week depending on the weather. If you will be gone longer have someone reliable come over and water regularly.

 

If your grafted trees or roses are sprouting below the graft, cut the sprouts off.

Keep picking seed pods off the annuals and clipping spent flowers (deadheading) to encourage bloom all summer. If appropriate pinch plants to encourage later blooming.

 

Always read the labels on your plants for fertilization, however most woody plants have pretty much completed their growth and their buds for next year. So fertilizing trees and shrubs after early July is a waste of money and may harm the plant.