Lots of people are celebrating the summer with produce
from their backyard vegetable gardens this year. Potatoes planted around St. Patrick’s Day are ready to harvest.
Fresh basil, tender yellow squash, and string beans are all coming into
their own right now.
So what should you be doing to keep your harvest going?
Weed. Don’t let those greedy weeds steal nutrients from your vegetable garden, choke out light, or drink up precious water in the soil. Pull weeds when they’re young and toss them on the compost pile if they haven’t set seed.
Water. Conserve water on your lawn by watering deeply once a week and setting the blade on the mower higher to hold in water. But in the veggie garden, water is vital. Make sure roots are getting the water they need to take up nutrients and create juicy, luscious fruit. In hot climates, the soaker hose or drip irrigation may need to run every day or two in early morning or late evening.
And don’t forget to keep a layer of mulch, like our Happy Frog Soil Conditioner, on your veggie garden to suppress weeds and hold in moisture.
Feed. Tomatoes, squash, and peppers are heavy feeders. They need a lot of nutrients to get the job done. This time of year, we’re scratching in a dry organic fertilizer like Happy Frog Tomato & Vegetable once a month, and in between we’re watering weekly with Big Bloom.
Be sure to harvest fruit and veggies when they’re young and tender to ensure a long season. Share with friends, neighbors, and local food banks—this is the time to celebrate the bounty!
