| Thank you, Veronica Au in Chilliwack, BC, for this week’s photo! |
There’s a piece of folk wisdom that says that all plants—no matter when they were set in the ground—will catch up by the end of the month.
Most of us are constantly measuring our gardens (and thus ourselves) against those of our neighbors, extended family, and friends. We feel badly for not planting the broccoli or zucchini sooner. Our sunflowers aren’t tall enough. The fence needs to be rebuilt or stained so that it looks better in photos. Why aren’t our tomatoes plumper, vegetables more abundant, and grass greener? All of this worry has a way of ruining a perfectly lovely afternoon in the garden.
Perhaps, though, it would be more helpful to view our gardens—whether literal or metaphorical—as works in progress. The truth is that every garden is exactly where it needs to be . . . at least for now. And perhaps we are, too.
The warmth of summer does, of course, make a garden grow! For example, peppers will begin to thrive. As with eggplant, though, hold off on feeding until they blossom.
More hours of sunlight do mean that you need to think more about watering. The rules of watering vary from edible to edible: Tomatoes need to be watered consistently to avoid blossom-end rot, but cucumbers don’t need a regular shower until flowers appear. Check out our Vegetable Watering Guide for how much and when to water to ensure an abundant harvest.
Every gardener spends more time than they’d like in thinking about weeds. Stop these unwelcome guests before they can take root with these weed prevention tips.
No matter what you’re growing in your garden, we have a guide!
Finally, today is Father’s Day. Plan a fun day complete with a feast fit for a king with these “dad-approved” activities and recipes. One idea: If blueberries are ripe near you, visit a u-pick farm and then turn your harvest into a mouthwatering treat with these fresh blueberry recipes!
As sure as the Sun will rise and set each day, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is here for you, now and always.
Your Friends from The Old Farmer’s Almanac |
