July Gardening
"Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August." - Jenny Han.
July— that summer month with Independence Day, lots of heat, little rain (even less in this drought year), plenty of pests, harvest, and time to think of planting for fall crops. Where to start?
The lack of rain has caused significant problems this season. Vegetable gardens, ornamentals and trees all ideally require an inch of water a week for peak performance. One of the worst practices is to water your garden lightly every day or every few days. This frequent sprinkling provides water to only the top layer of the soil and promotes shallow root systems. In turn, these shallow root systems are susceptible to rapid drying out and ultimate demise. Instead, water thoroughly, slowly, and deeply once a week. The same watering practice will hold true for turf. However, research has shown that turf can be allowed to go dormant during drought and will bounce back with remarkable success.
The appearance of pests ramps up significantly in July. Japanese beetles, squash bugs, potato beetles, cucumber beetles, and cabbage worms all seem to come alive around the same time. To keep things under control, scout often and carefully; ideally make a walk through daily and pay close attention. Treat infestations when they are small and with the least aggressive method first. Hand picking or a strong spray of water is the first line of defense. If pesticides become necessary, be sure to follow all label directions precisely and wear appropriate safety equipment.
Keep up with the garden weeds. Adding organic mulch will not only help control weeds, but will help retain moisture. Above all, do not let the weeds go to seed. This will only perpetuate the problem for years as many weeds produce hundreds of thousands of seeds per plant. Research has shown that the seeds can survive in the soil years, if not decades, before they germinate.
As July progresses, continue to deadhead the spent blooms from perennial and annual flowers as needed. In many cases, this will promote more blooms. Do so with sharp garden shears to prevent damaging the growing plant. Stake taller plants to prevent them from falling over and breaking. Tie them loosely in order to prevent strangling the plant; soft twine is a good choice for tying and can be tucked in the plant to be inconspicuous.
Keep up with harvesting vegetable crops. Harvest early in the day for best results and harvest ripe crops frequently. The goal of the plant is to produce fruit; leaving ripe fruit on the plant will halt that process. Cool harvested produce as promptly as possible.
Thinking ahead to some fall harvesting, it is time to sow some crops. By August 1st, plant seeds for beets, bush beans, carrots (try the fingerling varieties), peas, and kohlrabi. If you have started seeds indoors and have transplants for some of the cole crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, they should also be set out by August 1st. Some of the greens like leaf lettuce, spinach, and chard as well as the perennial favorite, radishes, can be sown until September 1st with still time for a good crop.
Most importantly, enjoy July and the joy of gardening. "If you're not barefoot, then you're overdressed." – Unknown
Carol Shirk
Certified Master Gardener