July Garden Tips:
Repair leaky hoses, broken tools, cracked watering cans as needed.
Periodically check to make sure summer volunteers are coming to water, weed and pick ripe veggies
Start a new garden bed using the sheet mulching/lasagna layering method (google either term and/or permaculture). It’ll be ready for next spring.
Mulch bare garden ground to retain soil moisture and add visual appeal to your gardens
Continue succession planting, especially when a crop goes by. You’ll have food for the school cafeteria or food bank well into Fall. Plant things like lettuces, spinach, arugula, Brussel sprouts, green beans, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, carrots, radishes, beets, cilantro and dill.
Check out veggieharvest.com, enter your plant hardiness zone and you’ll find a chart giving the best times to plant certain crops.
If you have bare spots, buy some colorful annuals to fill in; they’re often sold at reduced prices at local nurseries and big box stores.
Harvest garlic when tops are turning brown and dry the heads. Save some for fall planting in October.
Summer watering to conserve water, help prevent plant disease and to save time:
- Consider putting in an underground watering or drip system and put it on a timer.
- If no underground system, water in the early morning whenever possible.
- Water deeply. One inch a week for established plants and more often for newly planted seeds and seedlings.
- Pay attention to what rainfall Mother Nature provides and adjust watering appropriately.
- When possible, water around the plant rather than directly onto the leaves and flowers.
- If using an above ground sprinkler, water earlier in the day, not later. Plant leaves will have a chance to dry off.
- Avoid mid-day watering. Plant leaves can “burn” and water evaporates, meaning less moisture for plants.
Check out our SCHOOL GARDEN CALENDAR to learn more about what this month looks like in the garden! For more information, try out these awesome resources: MOFGA's Planting Calendar, Fedco's Veggie Chart, and Johnny's Planting Calculator and Succession Planting Template.
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