Craving Summer Produce? It's Not too Late!

Okay, so you’ve had your vegetables planted for more than a month now and it’s time to take a step back, do a few chores and take stock.  We consulted with John Lyons who runs The Woven Garden here in Los Angeles.  John specializes in “edible landscapes.”  He not only plants fabulous gardens – but he also offers do-it-yourself classes for kids and adults.  Suffice to say, this guy knows his stuff!  Here are John’s mid-summer suggestions:

• Don’t over water your tomato plants.  You want to stress them which forces deep roots.  Then water deeply.  Try and do it only once or twice a week, careful to water just at the roots and not to spray all over plant.
• Put mulch down to protect vegetable roots from heat. You want to do this before you get into the really hot temperatures of July and August.  You can use leaves or rough organic compost. Doing this will also save considerably on water.
• Be sure and stalk your tomatoes before they get too big.  John likes the iron Tomato Ladders from Gardener’s Supply.  He says, “They are sturdy and strong and will last a lifetime. You can also use them for sweet peas.”
• You might have lost a few plants, pulled them out and now have some additional space.  It’s not too late to fill the spot!  Here are some of John’s favorites to look for in your local nursery:
• Rocotto Pepper – “It’s a medium hot pepper that apparently is a perennial here in California.  Look for the Monzano variation.
• Pimento Pepper – “Its an intense red color and very sweet.”
• Spices – “If you like to cook, spices are invaluable.  Get some French Tarragon, English Thyme, or Bertgarten Sage, which has the best flavor by far of all the Sage varieties out there.  If you like to grill meat, get some Savory. Mint is also a wonderful spice, but if you do it, be sure to put it in a pot and put the pot in the ground and plant it that way.  Cut the bottom off the pot so the roots can go way down in the ground. What you are trying to do is prevent it from invading your entire garden, which it will!”

One final word from John, “Stay away from planting certain plants now.  It’s simply too late.  These include: lettuce, onions, cabbage, kale, artichoke and garlic.  These are fall/winter vegetables.  The good news is you can look forward to planting them this fall.”