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Let’s dig into the dirt! Finally, some rain! I am very grateful for the rain, but this week has still been about mitigating the hot, dry weather we’ve been having thus far this season, and Sunday was all about watering and fertilizing. I know, I sound like a broken record talking about the heat and dry weather. Even knowing we had rain coming, I spent a couple hours slowly and gently watering and rewatering plants. When soil is dry, it’s important to water slowly and thoroughly. Simply dumping a lot of water at one time will not allow plants to get a nourishing drink. Rather, the water will runoff or go down through the soil too quickly.
I managed to follow my own advice and get my veggies some liquid fertilizer. My shallots seem especially thankful and have grown out a lot! The tomatoes I planted a few weeks ago were also fed and have opened their yellow flowers. My newly planted okra and tomatillos have settled nicely into their places (they will soon have cages installed as supports). Several of my native plants, gladiolus, and elderberries were looking peaked, so they got a shot of fertilizer as well. On a side note, I found Joe Pye Weed growing all on its own in another garden bed! I plan to transplant these little cuties in late August. Late summer is a great time to transplant perennials: the sun is lower in the sky, the heat is less intense, but the soil is still nice and warm.
I planted another maiden feather fern under the magnolia tree. I’m hoping to create a “soft landing” for pollinators. On a sad note, the fern I planted a few weeks ago is in a lot of distress–they were so wilted they almost looked burnt. These ferns are not complainers, so I watered thoroughly and fertilized them. Time will tell how this wee fern will do.
Alright, I have droned on about watering and fertilizing enough. Let’s talk pests. I only spotted a leafhopper on my grape vines, as well as gall. When leafhoppers feed, they create white spots on the foliage and can eventually cause the leaf to curl and fall off. I believe the gall present on my grapes is Grape Tumid Gallmaker. While this pest might seem like a disease–it looks like the vines are swelling and the leaves get lumps and bumps–it is actually an insect.
A midge will lay its eggs on vines and foliage, and its larvae feeding causes the disfiguration. It can impact the fruit production of the plant if it’s a severe infestation, however, I’m not too concerned at this point. For more information on grape pests, take a look at UMASS Amherst’s resource page. At the store, we had a number of customers come in with Cucumber Beetle damage. While this beetle’s damage is frustrating, the more insidious part is that they can infect plants with bacterial wilt. Be on the lookout! Also spotted…woodchucks. At my house, these devils are known to take one bite out of each butternut squash. I try to be proactive by putting up some fencing around my veggies, and some natural, granular repellent.
A quick note on natural repellent: be sure to reapply it from time to time. I usually reapply every two weeks, depending on how severe the issue is or depending on the weather. It can be really effective, but if resources are slim for animals (i.e. water and food), they will brave the repellent. This is why I try to apply repellent and install fencing before any critters realize there is good eating in the area–it helps a lot!
Now for my favorite part: what’s bloomin’! Still in bloom are the Little Redhead Spigella, some renegade peonies, cornflower, and foxglove. My budding Geum is starting to finally open! This native has lovely yellow flowers and fuzzy foliage–very cute! My Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan) is also starting to pop…and most exciting in our little frog pond the lilies are peaking open. Our frogs love it, and this little pond and its ecosystem takes care of itself.
If you haven’t done so already, get yourself some strawberries! They are very tasty this year, and we already have a batch and a half of jam made. I’m feeling very hopeful for our blueberry crop this year, as I am seeing little green berries in spades all along our shrub.
Looking ahead, I’m antsy to get into some of the overgrown parts of the yard and take care of bittersweet, poison ivy, and many thorny invasive plants. But… it will probably have to wait till the store closes for vacation for a project that size. Speaking of which, the Nashua Farmers’ crew will be on vacation from July 1st through the 14th, so be sure to pick up any essentials by Monday, June 29th! We’ll be back on July 15th.
If you’re looking for some local upcoming garden events, mark your calendar for Saturday, July 18th. The Big Little Garden is taking part in The Garden Conservancy Open Days garden tour, and will have a small plant sale to benefit Kitty Angels Rescue & Shelter. Grab your tickets here!
This coming week looks hot and dry, so stay hydrated. Enjoy your gardens and treat yourself to a pint of strawberries!
Kate Ratta is the manager of the local feed store Nashua Farmers' Exchange, Inc. She has more than 10 years of experience working in the business owned by her aunt and uncle, Judy Ratta-Harrington and Gene Harrington, and will be contributing weekly garden reports. The store is located at 38½ Bridge Street in Nashua in the converted Boston & Maine and Concord Railroad station.
