By Sally Hansley Odum
It’s that time of year again. Long, lazy, hot days, vacations, high humidity, and lots of fond family memories are all a part of summer. Summer is also when the garden kicks into high gear. Harvesting and watering your vegetables will naturally take some of your time. But there are ways to make gardening tasks easier and faster, when you need to be on the go. With these tips, you should be able to save time, enjoy your summer, and still have a healthy, productive garden too.
Summer Watering made Easy
If you have a Square Foot Garden, you know that Mel Bartholomew (the inventor of the method) recommends putting one cup of sun-warmed water to each plant daily. Ideally, you would capture this water in a rain barrel for optimum sustainability. However, we all know sometimes there just isn’t enough time to do this. The easiest solution is to install a self-drip hose that delivers water to the roots of your plants. Drip irrigation systems can be elaborate or simple – the choice is yours. It’s a good compromise to save time and keep your garden happy.
Sneaking Away for Vacation
I have found that my plants do fine for a few days without any attention. If you use the Mel’s Mix growing formula (1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite and 1/3 blended composts), your garden will retain moisture far better than a garden planted in natural dirt or other growing mediums. Add a layer of mulch to the top of the garden bed and it will retain even more moisture, protecting plants for longer periods of time. Set your drip irrigation system on an automatic timer to periodically water your plants while you’re away, and your garden will be in great shape when you return at the end of your vacation! Alternatively, you might ask a neighbor to water while you’re away and reward them with fresh vegetables.
Conquering Extreme Heat & Rain
Mulching not only helps retain moisture in the garden, but also protects tender plants from extreme heat. Shading the garden may be desirable if temperatures soar too high. Use shade cloths attached to T-posts and PVC pipe (or high garden fences) to create an overhead cover for your garden. Make sure that plenty of airflow gets through beneath it and that sunlight will filter in too. If you have a 4X4 Square Foot Garden, it’s easy to attach a garden umbrella to shield your plants from torrential rains.
