SolveYourProblem
Article Series: Organic Gardening
Organic
Gardening Tips & Advice
Organic
Vegetable Gardening: Early Summer Checklist
As summer approaches it is wonderful to be
able to relax and enjoy the garden, but there is also a lot
to be done in the organic vegetable garden at this time of
year.
Weeding
Late spring and early summer is the peak growing time for
most plants, including weeds. Being natural wild plants they
will grow strong healthy roots very quickly. Don't let them
get the upper hand or they will steal the precious water and
nutrients that your growing vegetables need. Hoe twice a week
for optimum weed control.
If you get to know your weeds, you may find that you can add
some of them to your salad bowl instead of throwing them straight
into the compost. For a few dollars you can buy a book of edible
wild plants native to your state or country that will help
you identify them. Perhaps you will even decide to let some
of your tastiest weeds live and seed.
Sowing And Planting Out
Depending on your climate you may still be sowing carrots,
cabbage and broccoli for later harvests. Plant out any remaining
zucchini, pumpkins, squash and beans.
Plants that have been grown from seed indoors need to be hardened
to the change of air and temperature before being planted outside,
even if the weather is warm. Leave them outside in a sheltered
spot, not in full sun, for a few days, bringing them in at
night or any time that the temperature drops.
Thinning And Harvesting
Many plants will require thinning now to get the best crop.
A lot of these are technically fruit but as we eat these non-sweet
fruit in salads, they are usually considered part of the vegetable
garden.
With tomatoes, pinch off the side shoots to encourage the
plant to put more energy into its fruit. If your shoots are
about 5 inches long or more, they can be established as separate
plants. They will take about 10 days to root and of course
will produce a later crop than the main plant. Remove their
first flowers to have them grow big enough to provide good
fruit.
If you are growing cucumbers, harvest them regularly to encourage
more to be produced. Pick lettuce before it becomes too old
and replace your first lettuces with new sown seeds.
Pest Control And Wildlife
This is a great time to encourage natural predators to settle
in your garden and control your pests.
- If
you have problems with aphids, purchase a ladybug nest
and feeder.
- The
beetles that feed on slugs flourish on undug, well mulched
ground that gives them plenty of protective cover. So control
weeds with mulch instead of the hoe if you have a slug problem.
- Encourage
bees and wasps by growing flowers with large, colorful open
blooms or smaller, bell-shaped flowers alongside
your vegetables. Wasps also love to have a pile of undisturbed
dead wood for nest building. By providing this for them in
a place that you choose, you can prevent them from nesting
around the house, tool stores, children's play areas and other
areas of your organic vegetable garden.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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