August Gardening Tips

Gardening Greetings!?

I hope you and your gardens are doing well! So much is happening in the month of August! Here are your gardening tips and topics for the month of August!

RECENT BLOGS

WATER! WATER! WATER!

Oh what to do when the temperature is above 80 degrees day after day?!! Watering your vegetable garden properly and efficiently during hot weather is crucial to ensure the health and productivity of your plants.

Here are some tips to help you water your garden properly:

When to Water?

The best time to water plants is early in the morning when it's still cool or later in the afternoon when the sun is not so intense.? Morning watering allows the water to run down into the soil to reach the roots without too much loss to evaporation and it helps the plants absorb the moisture which they will need throughout the day giving them the ability to deal better with the heat of the sun.

How Much Water?

Vegetable gardens require an average of 1-6 inches of water per week depending on what each plant needs. A general guideline, I use, is one inch of water per week when the temperature does not go above 60 degrees. For every 10 degrees above 60, I add an additional 1/2 inch of water.

How to Water?

It is better to do deep watering less often than to shallow water every day.

Click the link below for the "Water! Water! Water!" BLOG

KNOW IT TO GROW IT: CILANTRO

Cilantro is a popular and widely used herb in cooking because of its distinctive taste. It's super easy to grow in the garden and it has many healthy benefits. It can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians.

How to Grow Cilantro

Cilantro is very easy to grow. Here are some simple steps to successfully grow cilantro:

Location: Cilantro thrives in full to partial sun (4 to 6+ hours) and does well in well-drained fertile soil. In warmer climates, it can tolerate some shade during the hottest part of the day: noon to 3pm.?

Planting: Cilantro seeds (also known as coriander seeds) can be sown directly in the garden when the soil temperatures are between 55℉ to 85℉. Sow seed about ? to ? inch deep in rows or clusters.

Spacing: After your cilantro sprouts, thin out the plants so that they are spaced approximately 6 to 8 inches apart, providing ample space for their growth.

Watering: Cilantro prefers evenly moist soil. Check the top inch of soil and when it feels dry, it is time to water!?

Fertilization: Before planting, you can incorporate a balanced all-purpose fertilizer into the soil or occasionally apply a liquid fertilizer during the growing season.?

Harvesting: You can start harvesting the outer cilantro leaves when the plant is around 3 to 6 inches in height. Harvesting the outer leaves will encourage new growth. You can continue harvesting the leaves until the plant starts to bolt or when it starts to flower and produce seed.

Successive Planting: To extend your cilantro harvest, you can plant new seeds every few weeks (also known as the successive planting method). This will provide a continuous supply of fresh cilantro leaves.?

Companion Planting: Basil, chives, and dill are great companion plants that can help deter pests and improve garden health.?

Pests: Pests that can damage cilantro include aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.

Medicinal Benefits of Cilantro

Cilantro has a long history of medicinal use that spans across various cultures and civilizations.?

From Ancient Egyptians to Colonial America, cilantro was commonly used for aiding digestion, addressing urinary issues, and even as an aphrodisiac. The Europeans introduced it to indigenous groups during the Colonial period.

Modern day scientific research on this herb has been ongoing and it is believed that cilantro does offer various health benefits. Some of these benefits include:

Click the link below for the "Know It To Grow It: Cilantro" BLOG

Plants, Pests, and Disease: The Factors Revealed!

Healthy plants are strong stemmed, have a strong root system, look vibrant, and have an abundance of flowers. Healthy plants have high yields of fruit because of their continuous growth and production. Everything is going great and then out of nowhere, bam! We have pests and diseases! We were caught totally off guard! What in the world happened?!

Plant Immunity

Before we dive into what factors that can cause plant pests and disease, it is crucial to understand a fundamental concept: plant immunity. Simply put, your plants are designed to have defense mechanisms that help them resist and respond to pathogens and environmental stressors. When your plant’s “immunity” is weakened, these mechanisms are overcome by stress and as a result, pests and disease show up!

Significant Factors that Cause Plant Pests and Disease

Weakened immune system, environmental conditions, poor air circulation, lack of pest monitoring are significant factors that cause plant pests and disease.

Click the link below for the "Plants, Pests, and Disease: The Factors Revealed!" BLOG

Round 2: Planning Your Garden for Fall Harvest

At the time of this writing, we’re almost through the summer season and the weather is slowly transitioning to cooler temperatures. You can still put in crops that will give you a fall harvest if you know how to plan for it.

3 Keys to Planning a Successful Fall Harvest

Fall weather can suddenly shift and surprise us with chilly temperatures, leading to frost and cold snaps that might harm a garden. To help your fall harvest garden thrive, let's explore 3 essential tips or "keys" for success:

Key One: Know Your First Frost Date

You should figure out the number of days left until the expected first frost date. This is not just about knowing how much time you have, but it will also help you pick the right plants that can grow well in that remaining time.

A great resource for frost dates is the Farmer's Almanac!

Click the link below for the "Planning Your Garden For Fall Harvest" BLOG

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Until next time, have a FANTASTIC gardening day!

Laura Christine, ND, CGC ~ [email protected]