A Checklist For Early Summer

There is also a lot to be done in the organic vegetable garden as summer approaches and it's great to be able to relax and enjoy the 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. You can buy a book of edible wild plants native to your state or country very cheaply 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.

Editor
Peter Charalambos