By mid-June, we have reached late spring. Gardeners are faced with pressure from pests and will likely be ready to take a rest from planting and enjoy harvesting instead. Luckily, we have things to harvest.
Garlic bulbs planted last fall will shortly, if they haven’t already, send up the curly stems of a garlic flower, called scapes. These intriguing stems should be cut back to the first leaf node to ensure that plant energy gets sent to the expanding bulb (your garlic cloves) underground. Luckily, the scapes are edible.
Chop up for stir fry or puree and add to soups. While this week has been cloudy and relatively cool, warm weather will sap the moisture from your soil quickly as the days get longer. The easiest way to have healthy plants is to provide regular water.
Always water soil, not foliage. A water wand has a shutoff near the handle and extends your reach either down to plant level, across a bed, or up to reach into hanging baskets. I might spray off dirt, dust, or mulch that mars the leaf surface, but I focus the water primarily down onto the soil until it seeps into the surface.
Then I will take another pass and wait for the water to seep in again. By watering soil, you reduce chances for fungal spread and moisture evaporation. If you are like me, you spot a new plant or a pretty combination and you want to tuck it into your garden somewhere.
Just remember, new plants under trees need extra water to compete with established tree roots. In general, a new perennial,.