Summer garden tips Maine

Summer is the time to really enjoy your garden.  With some careful work, it can also be a time that you’re really popular with your neighbors and friends thanks to an abundance of fruits and vegetable to share with those close to you.  The following tips can help you to make the most of your garden.

•    Summer is the time to plant the following warm weather crops in your garden: beans, squash, melons, cucumbers, and corn.

•    Squash and melons require special care.  Create mounds for them in your garden that are 3 feet apart.  Plant 5 to 7 seeds for each mound.  After the seedlings have appeared for a week, pull up all but the two that look the strongest.

•    You probably planted tomatoes in late spring.  Be sure to stake them.  This keeps the fruit from dragging on the ground, which can encourage pests.  It also saves space in your garden.

•    Okra is another garden crop that requires some special care.  The seeds are covered in a tough coat.  To combat this, soak them in water 6 to 24 hours before planting.  Next, plant them 2 inches apart and as they pop up, thin them to 6 inches apart.  Also, be sure to cut okra pods often or else they can get oversized and tough.

•    The more you pick your crop in your garden, the more vegetables you’ll.  If you leave mature vegetables sitting on the plant, the plant will focus on nurturing that instead of producing new vegetables.  Harvest consistently so that your garden plants continue to produce.

•    Don’t forget to weed your garden and treat for any pests.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy working in the garden, and to enjoy your homegrown fruits and vegetables!