N OTHING LASTS, I NOTED BRIEFLY in last week’s email newsletter, but I wish to take that back: Nothing lasts except the list of chores, the presence of weeds, and this year, the rain (if the forecast is right today, and I get another 2 inches, that will be almost 7 in two weeks). Let’s get on with it, I guess; put on your rainsuits and galoshes and here we go, working through a dozen things that I think need doing here: Taking Inventory, Then Resowing: Timing is everything, but getting your timing right takes some do-overs sometimes.
I have dill all ready to eat right now…but alas, no cucumbers yet. When the cukes are ready, the dill will be spent.
Time to sow more, so the two converge into refrigerator pickles, a hand-me-down recipe from a long-ago gardening friend’s family. Compare the life cycles of your intended duets: Will your tomatoes and basil overlap, for instance, or is there cilantro for the upcoming pepper and tomatillo harvest for that hoped-for salsa?Hatchet Jobs: The garden gets its biggest haircut in early July here, normally, but with more than 5 inches of rain the last week things that might have held up another two weeks are looking tired and trampled.
Off with their heads. Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’ (perhaps my favorite of all the perennial geraniums) was the first sacrificial lamb (above; looks awful, doesn’t it?, but it cannot be avoided). The biggest bleeding hearts look a wreck (‘Gold Heart’ thankfully still looks OK), and down they’re coming, too.
Cast a critical eye around the place and get trimming.
Top Up the Mulch: After cutbacks, when areas are more accessible, is perfect timing for a little more mulch where it has worn away or decomposed. I usually clean up the edges now, too, while I’m at
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We strongly believe that planning and preparing are crucial for success in every area. Gardening is no exception, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what you are supposed to do this month—especially if you have limited experience in the gardening area.
This £1 packet of supermarket potato tubers have just been harvested to cook as new potatoes tonight. The variety was Charlotte, they were chitted in February and planted out in a frost shelter in March.
A recent visit to Maplewood Gardens in East Flat Rock, NC where there is an incredible collection of Japanese maples. The Mr. Maple nursery specializes in these beautiful maples.
Rob Last reports, “Given the rainfall and humidity levels, we are seeing increases in foliar and fruit diseases on a range of crops. This includes cottony leak in cucumbers, anthracnose in peppers, tomatoes, and cucurbits. Also, please be aware cucurbit downy mildew is very active now. As a result, it is going to be really important to maintain fungicide programs in both a timely manner and to be robust. That being said, we have some great quality melons, both cantaloupe and watermelons, coming to harvest, as well as good volumes of quality peaches, blackberries, and a host of other vegetable crops.”
Zack Snipes reports, “We received some welcomed rain, but 5+ inches in a day or so was a bit much. Conditions this week will dry things out. I cannot stress enough how important it is to get out fungicides once you can get in the fields. I saw a few squash fields going downhill last week. Upon closer examination, I found thousands of squash bugs. They tend to congregate on the crown of the plant and will hide under the plastic when you look for them.
Rob Last reports, “After some welcome rain in the area over the weekend, crops are looking good. However, given the humidity and rainfall, we are likely to find disease pressure increasing. Strawberries are all over. The wet, humid conditions have spiked infections of botrytis and water-soaked berries. Blueberries, blackberries, and peaches are all coming to market with good quality and volumes, with few insect or disease pressures being seen currently. Watermelons and cantaloupes are developing well, with some early planted crops coming to harvest. In response to rainfall and increased humidity, keep an eye out for diseases such as bacterial spot in pepper and tomatoes. In addition, some cantaloupe crops are beginning to show Alternaria leaf spot. Make sure fungicide timings are good using a robust program.”
Rob Last reports, “Insect and disease activity is increasing in the area, across a broad range of crops. In cucurbits, we are seeing powdery mildew and gummy stem blight in watermelon. Remember to keep spray intervals tight. Loopers are also being found in the area, and applications to manage rind worms will be beneficial as we rapidly approach harvest. Fusarium wilt of watermelons is showing up in many fields. At this stage, there is no effective treatment; however, soil temperatures are likely to reduce the incidence of new infections. Tomatoes and peppers are developing well with Southern blight and bacterial wilt in evidence. Spider mites are very active right now. Blackberries are just coming to harvest with good flavor and quality. Remember to scout your crops regularly to ensure timely applications can be made.”
On Saturday, June 8, join me and Adam Wheeler of Broken Arrow Nursery in my garden for tours and a giant plant sale, and select from among an entire day of plant-themed offerings celebrating both herbs and flowers in nearby Hillsdale: herb cooking and flower arranging and growing.Plus, learn to be a better birder in a morning talk and guided walk/workshop, with Kathryn Schneider, past president of the NY State Ornithological Association and author of “Birding the Hudson Valley.” Don