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Posts Tagged ‘GardenProgress’

The zucchini plants are growing nicely. They started producing flowers this week. I picked my first zucchini yesterday, chopped it up and made a zucchini frittata. Yum.

Zucchini PlantZucchini

No signs of Squash Vine Borer yet, but it’s still early. I can never catch the moths or their eggs until it is too late.

This year I have staggered my squash plantings with the zucchini in first, the gords a few weeks later, and a second crop of zucchini now growing in small pots to be put in the garden beds in a few weeks, after the borer has presumably laid eggs and moved on. Also, I’ve planted the zucchini in a new garden bed so the moths are not already in this soil. It’s a constant battle to get my plants to stay healthy, but I’m not giving up.

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What a difference a week makes. It has been rain, rain, rain and 20 degrees below normal temperatures for most of June. Now it’s 20 degrees above normal with temperatures over 90°F.

Shade for LettuceThis is bad news for my lettuce which was growing beautifully with all the rain and cool days. Lettuce hates hot sun, and too much heat will make it wilt and then bolt to seed. For the last few days I’ve helped it out with a shade umbrella. And yes, it does work. Freshly picked lettuce from the garden is so good it’s worth the trouble.

With a little effort lettuce can be kept happily growing through July in the midwest: Choose varieties that are better able to withstand heat. Pick a location that will get shade in the afternoon or will be next to taller plants. Next year I may try rows of lettuce between the tomato plants for shade. Water often. Take cuttings of outer leaves rather than waiting for entire heads. This keeps the lettuce growing and it won’t go to seed or get bitter tasting.

Organic LettuceI had success with this mix last year so I planted it again.

  • Four Seasons (soft butterhead)
  • Lollo Rossa (curly red leaf)
  • Buttercrunch (heat tolerant cousin of Bibb)
  • Craquerelle du Midi (French Romaine)
  • Black Seeded Simpson (fast growing looseleaf)
  • Salad Bowl (looseleaf)

In mid August I seed again for a fall crop which will last until we get a frost.

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