Summer Vegetable Gardening
Summer vegetable gardens are in full swing in most areas of the country. Here are some things you can do to keep your harvest coming long into fall:
Water regularly. Inconsistent watering will diminish yields, and what can be harvested will be poor quality. Lack of soil moisture causes blossom end rot in tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables; turns cucumbers bitter; and makes squash, beans and eggplant stop producing. Don’t let plants dry out. When you do irrigate, water deeply (at least 12 to 18 inches) to wet the entire root zone. Refresh mulches to cool soil and conserve moisture.
Fertilize lightly. Most vegetables will benefit from light fertilization about every 6 weeks in midsummer. Just don’t overdo it. Too much nitrogen will cause some vegetables, especially tomatoes, to stop producing.
Pick often. Visit the garden at least every other day to harvest mature vegetables. Plants such as cucumbers, beans, squash, peppers and eggplant will stop producing if not picked regularly. If you can’t use everything you harvest, share your bounty with neighbors.
Keep planting. In many areas of the country, August is the ideal time to plant cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, chard, peas and lettuce. Shorter days and cooler weather are perfect for ripening later in fall. In mild-winter areas, harvest can extend into winter and there still may be time to plant another crop of quick-maturing summer vegetables such as beans and squash. For exact planting dates, visit your state’s cooperative extension Web site. You’ll find links on the home page of this site.
Pull weeds. Weeds compete with vegetables for water, light and nutrients, and reduce yields. Cultivate the soil often and remove weeds whenever you see them. Mulching will also help reduce weeds.
Use season-extenders. In short-season areas where frosts can occur anytime, protect plants with floating row covers. Available in nurseries and garden centers, floating row covers are made of lightweight cloth, which transmits light and water, but traps warmth to hasten ripening and protect from cold.
Control insect pests. Insects such as cucumber beetles, tomato hornworms, potato beetles, corn borers, cabbage loopers and others will want to share in your bounty. Protect vegetables listed on the label from insect pests with Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Concentrate, Bayer Advanced™ Complete Insect Dust For Gardens Ready-To-Use or Bayer Advanced™ Complete Insect Killer for Gardens Ready-To-Use. To protect plants against slugs and snails, use Bayer Advanced™ Dual Action Snail & Slug Killer Bait Granules, which you can use around pets and wildlife.
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