For some of us, midsummer vegetable gardening involves a lot of watering and harvesting. Keeping up with the zucchini tops the list. For others, planting a new crop of vegetables is the task, especially now that summer vacations are ending and school has started.
These days, the soil is warm, making it a great time to sow seeds of root crops like carrots, beets, radishes and turnips. The weather is perfect for these crops.
If you are an avid seed starter, now is a good time to sow Asian greens, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and the like. Sow seeds outdoors directly in the soil or start in seed starting flats for transplanting later on.
At the nursery, you will also find a good supply of vegetable starts in six-packs. All can be planted this time of year. With cole crops like cabbage, broccoli and kale, it is important to watch out for the white cabbage butterfly that hovers about the garden this time of year. It will lay eggs on cole crop leaves and the green caterpillars will soon make a mess of your vegetables. Cover plants with row cover or spray weekly with Bacillus thuringiensis weekly to keep the pests under control.
Starting a midsummer vegetable garden requires extra vigilance when it comes to watering. The ground is dry and there is no rain in sight for a few more weeks. Grab the hose and water on. You will be rewarded in a few short weeks with fresh produce.
Terry Kramer is a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-834-2661 or terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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