From new gardeners to seasoned gardeners we all must deal with issues throughout the seasons that can be very frustrating. One of the biggest issues is pests. A question I get asked a lot is “What can I do about squash bugs?” I have fought many battles in my garden and squash bugs are by far the hardest battle I have fought. Every summer I wonder, is it worth growing squash or melons if I lose so much to this incredibly nasty pest? My answer is always yes! I have learned that the best way to deal with these hungry monsters is to watch for them as you water at soil level and hand pick them off. Keep a bowl of soapy water with you and throw those nasty things in it as you pick them off. It can be time consuming, but it does work. My mother in-law uses an old Dust Buster and sucked them right off the plant…lol. You want to also look for the eggs of these pests on the underside of the leaves and the stems of your plants and scrape them off with your finger. If you have the space for a few chickens, they are an easy and awesome way to control all kinds of pests in your garden.
Another issue we all deal with is the heat. There are some beautiful flowers that can stand up to the afternoon temperature and sun as well. Sunflowers are amazing and fun to grow. There are perennial flowers that do well in the hot summer months such as Rudbeckia, Catmint, Russian Sage, Gaillardia, and verbena. Our Gallon Land is stocked full of beautiful heat-loving perennials that would make a bright addition to your sunny garden areas.
During hot weather, water your gardens at least three or four times a week. Watering the garden deeply is critical. The water must go down deep to encourage deep roots and to get away from the hot soil surface. Overhead watering can cause more damage than good, especially during the hot season, hand watering can take up valuable time but in some cases it’s worth the time you spend doing it. I often use a small sprinkler that is on very low and move it around my garden. Mulching is important as well. It acts as an insulator and helps keep your soil cooler in the summer.
Gardening in the hot summer months can be challenging but always rewarding. Keep in mind that the bounty is worth the struggle. Fresh vegetables and fruits that you grew yourself taste so much better than any store-bought ones. Growing our own food is an invaluable skill that we need to teach to the younger generation.
We will have more varieties of plants soon, as we prepare for each season! Check out what we currently have by going to our website, www.ashlandgreenhouses.com and clicking on “availability list” at the top of the web page. Our webpage will also have all our classes and events listed as well. We are open seven days a week throughout summer. As always, feel free to send an email to grow@ashlandgreenhouses.com, or give us a call at (541) 482-2866 if you have any questions.
