GARDENER'S READING ROOM
Edibles

Summer Victory Gardens

Last issue we talked a little about victory gardens and cool-season vegetable growing here in the Northwest. Well, seeds were planted; Sky's tables were filled and emptied of tender lettuces, spinach, peas... so now it's on to warm season veggies! Are you ready?

Now Sky is getting in the real heat-lovers: tomatoes, cukes, eggplant, squash, corn, beans, peppers, and especially BASIL. Given our generally coolish summers, it's often a good idea to make an extra effort to warm things up for them a bit. Here are some of Sky's tips for warming the soil. Raised beds warm up faster than unraised AND they facilitate better drainage. Clear plastic over a bed for a week will increase the soil temperature; the red plastic mulch or Tomato Tray around tomatoes will both warm the soil and reflect back the right light frequencies to make tomatoes ripen faster. They love it and Sky has it! To protect tender heat-lovers from chilly air, try floating row covers (Harvest Guard™) or cloches.

Heat lovers also tend to be greedy; they love nutrient-rich soil. Compost and/or steer manure amends the soil and improves soil structure. Mix in a good slow-release organic vegetable fertilizer such as Dr. Earth to feed your vegetables through the growing season.

Now that you've got your warm, healthy soil, you might want to consider planting some flowers and herbs to attract beneficial insects. Achillea (yarrow), dill, coriander, and fennel will all help attract ladybugs and lacewings. Love-lies-bleeding attracts ground beetles (which eat slugs and some soil-dwelling insects). Cosmos, daisies, statice and lemon balm attract parasitic wasps; alyssum, buckwheat, erysimum, and iberis, hoverflies. Salvia and penstemon are good for keeping pollinating bees coming around your place. Now hadn't you wanted a good excuse for planting them anyhow?

Predatory insects will often handle your herbivorous pests for you, but occasionally you may need to take other measures with these outlaws. Sometimes you'll need to hose off aphids, pick off cabbage loopers or use the Harvest Guard™ as an insect barrier (works great against flying insects as long as you keep it pinned solidly to the ground on all sides so they can't sneak under). But should it prove necessary to use a spray to control an insect or disease problem, Sky has a variety of vegetable-safe and effective ones, including organic options.

As for what to plant, well, everyone has their favorites! Sky's benches are brimming with tried-and-true varieties as well as "new kids on the block." Look for early ripening hybrids if last year's tomato crop was less than you had hoped, but take a chance on some of the longer-season heirlooms too, and who knows? You may be the winner - there is a reason why people have been growing some varieties for decades, and it's called flavor!

Gardening is a journey and there are a lot of rewards along the way. Luscious tomatoes warm off the vine... fresh-picked corn... even that third loaf of zucchini bread! So dig in. Happy planting - and happy harvest!

By Heather Small & Terri Williamson
Skylights Spring/Summer 2009, Vol 24, No. 2

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