Early June Garden To-Do List
Summer has arrived in Middle Tennessee and gardeners are settling into a slower pace. The name of the game this month is monitor and adjust. We aren’t in a rush to plant all of the plants. That’s done. Tomatoes and peppers aren’t producing huge harvests. Not yet. So these are the days to keep tabs on water needs, plant growth, and pest pressure. Slow down to enjoy the flowers, the first fruits in your harvest basket, and the lightening bugs creating magic around your garden space at night.
Harvest: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Kale. Eat it up! You may start seeing some cucumbers or summer squash in the next couple of weeks. Harvest them when they are small for best flavor and to encourage the plant to produce more fruit. I promise— a large squash may look impressive, but it mostly tastes like water. Immature onions can be harvested and used as scallions - yep, they are the same thing. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, oh my. Fried Green Tomatoes anyone? Can’t wait!
Plant: More bean seeds. When a space opens up from harvesting your spring crops, pop in a pepper, eggplant, or okra plant. Try sowing some heat-tolerant leaf lettuce seeds in the shade of larger plants.
Support: Help your vining crops find their supports by weaving stems into the trellis or tying them up if needed.
Prune: Regularly remove any damaged or yellowing leaves. It’s normal for plants to have a few of these near the soil. We must weigh-in on the Great Tomato Sucker Debate! (read more in the Q&A)
Squash Pollination: If you aren’t seeing many bees visit your big squash blossoms, use a small paintbrush or cotton swab to rub pollen from the stamen of a male flower on the the stigma of a female flower (the one with a fruit at it’s base).
Pests: are starting to really be an issue this month, but remember that many bugs in the garden are good bugs! Be sure to identify them before freaking out. When you find cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and hornworms, you can pick them off and drown them in a jar of soapy water (great job for kids!). Look for the eggs of Squash Vine Borers near the base of your squash plants. They are small red dots, pick them off and put them in the jar, too. Squash bugs lay a diamond-shaped cluster of purple eggs underneath leaves. Give these the drowning treatment too.
If you haven’t yet, protect your blueberries from birds and squirrels with these covers.
Celebrate all your “good” bugs. Bees and butterflies inspire such awe in the garden. Did you know that lighting bugs eat slugs?! Major heart eyes.
Weather Notes: parts of Middle Tennessee have been getting so much rain the past week! If your garden has been drenched, give your irrigation a break for a few days. Also try to avoid working in the garden when leaves are wet as the chance of spreading disease from one leaf to another is greater at that time. Once things dry out, remove rain-tattered or hail-damaged leaves.
It’s not blazing hot yet, but we know it’s coming. Get into the habit of getting out to do chores early in the morning. Wear a hat and sunscreen. Drink lots of water or make yourself a nice lemon balm or mint herbal tea to hydrate while enjoying the bounty of your garden.
