Whew. It’s not news to you, but the toughest gardening challenge is weather. I hope you got through the last few days of heat (after 2 weeks of wet) with little to no damage.
I finally had some extended outside time to do more planting last weekend and have just a wee bit more to do. I planted peacock orchid bulbs (Gladiolus, Acidanthera) and Crocosmia corms into the garden. Do it as soon as possible and do not worry if you haven’t yet. These bulbs and corms will dry up and waste away in your “cool” storage location, so plant them and revive them for next year. Blooms will be later but you will still have bulbs to plant in 2026 when you can plan to do it earlier!
More about heat! Best protection for lawns is to keep the blades long through hot weather. Mow high and mow often.
Water your plants thoroughly in the morning before the heat of the day evaporates your efforts. Most annuals and perennials need one inch of water per week and more during dry spells.
Herbs love hot and dry. Sow more dill and cilantro in the herb garden. These plants will be up and in good condition to flavor your pickles and salsa when cucumbers and tomatoes start to ripen.
After thinning lettuce clumps for early spring salads, now I start to cut leafy greens one leaf at a time around the clump. The leaf lettuce will still produce if the roots stay in place. Head-producing lettuce has a tendency to bolt faster than leaf lettuce in hot weather. Watch the temperature accordingly and cut the heads just above the roots.
Pinch back annuals like petunias and nasturtium that may be looking leggy to encourage more branching and more flowers. Deadhead oxeye daisies and annual black-eyed Susans. These prolific annuals will stop flowering when botanically “their job is done,” that is, seeds are made. Remove the dead flower heads before seeds form now. You’ll still have time to gather seed heads to spread in late summer for plants next year.
Also deadhead perennials like bachelor’s button (Centaurea montana), rose campion (Silene gallica or Geranium “Rozanne”) to encourage rebloom and to keep plants tidy. Although they don’t have a second flush usually, peony stems may have a few more blooms waiting to emerge, so I like to cut the buds just before opening and make bouquets. I can enjoy the fragrance and they don’t get beat up by late spring thunderstorms. Regardless, clean up the burst of petals from spent flowers to help prevent fungus problems around your plants.
Did you notice we had numerous cloudy, damp days and then suddenly the sun appeared blasting through the windows? Sudden changes in light intensity can cause houseplants to lose leaves or flowers. Sometimes the problem can be fixed by moving the plant to a brighter or darker location indoors. Hard to believe, but gardening indoors can also be affected by the weather.
Insect pests are coming, insect pests are coming! As you prepare, heed the label on botanical insecticides, like neem for Japanese beetles. Neem, though organic, can damage a wide variety of insects, pesty as well as beneficial. Try not to destroy the ecological balance on your property. By law, you need to follow the label directions.
Continue to pick peas in the morning (while plants are still sweet) and ripening berries in the evening (when dew has evaporated and plants are dry). You will stay ahead of most pests and have better tasting produce. Pick any moldy or damaged fruit and remove it from the garden to prevent the spread of fungus. If I was farming my strawberries and selling them, I might care more about spraying and covering. As it is, I just pull the bad ones and follow good cultural practices by laying straw mulch and avoiding overhead watering.
Store unused seeds in a cold, dry location; save them in a tight container like a reused, resealable peanut jar. Store the jar at the back of a cupboard or other dark spot. Make a reminder for yourself (like on the calendar day when you want to sow more seed) of where to find them. Been there and lost them—for weeks.
Don’t forget to enjoy the show! My native penstemon, now blooming in a large area dedicated to meadow plants, attracts and feeds native pollinators. They are blooming now for another week or so, probably three weeks maximum.
And not just perennials. Enjoy native flowering shrubs: kalmia latifolia, itea, clethra and hydrangea arborescens. I recently enjoyed a drive down Route 8 into Connecticut along the Farmington River. The mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia blooms were beautiful.
Trim back late-season perennials like aster or chrysanthemum now for more compact plants and more blooms in August through September. But be cautious and know your plants. Overgrown asters may intermingle with skin-irritating wild parsnip or poison ivy. Wear lightweight long sleeves like an old long-sleeved, linen shirt or invest in protective rash-guard sleeves. The sleeves protect skin from UV light as well as contact with those irritating plants.
By the way, the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners are presenting a free gardening class on Herbs this Saturday, June 28th at 10:00AM in the Demonstration gardens in Springside Park, 874 North Street, Pittsfield. Mary-Ann Emery will talk on growing and using herbs in cooking. Just show up!
