As I look out upon the garden from my desk, the garden looks quiet right now. The rain a few minutes ago made all the birds head for cover. We’ve had more than a few birds feed on the kale and cabbage that I let go to seed. There are also a few heads of lettuce that I let go to seed as well. I decided to let some stuff go to seed for two reasons: curiosity and laziness. I'll address the latter reason first. At the time the kale and cabbage started to go to seed we were very busy installing and planting our clients' gardens. I was too tired and basically lazy to pull it out when it started to bolt. Curiosity got the better of me once I had watched a video about collecting seed from kale plants and thought it I should try it. Collecting seeds from produce that you grew can be incredibly satisfying however depending upon the variety will determine how easy or difficult it can be. Collecting seeds from tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant tends to be easier than collecting from green leafy vegetables. It is a little bit more involved and a topic for another blog.
It’s hard to believe that it could be July 15th already; but there is still plenty of time to be able to seed quick growing crops in most zones. I don't think many people realize that there is even plenty of time to sow seeds for certain vegetables that will give you a late-summer or an early autumn harvest. Here in Zone 6 by mid-July you can transplant your June started seedlings or starts bought from a local nursery for brassicas like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. However, if you were going to direct seed right into the garden bed there's plenty more options available. Certain varieties work better than others when seeding this time of year. Varieties of spinach like Avon, Tyee and Indian Summer are all quick growers that are vigorous, high-yielding and have superb flavor all four seasons of the year. When looking for varieties, I look for quick growers that take under 50 days. As of today with 15 weeks left until November 1, that's 105 days - it's important to remember when you are seeding directly into your garden bed to add two weeks to the time to allow for germination and slower growth in fall.
After seeding it may be a good idea use a row cover to protect the freshly seeded area from the hot summer sun and wind.
- Newly seeded carrots that germinated
One
of the most important and sometime overlooked thing to remember when
sowing seeds during the mid-summer is always add compost to the area
that you're about to sow your seeds. By adding compost you are
replenishing the nutrients that were depleted from the crop that you
previously harvested. Food gets their nutrients from the soil and it's
very important to understand that once the crop is been harvested that
compost needs to be introduced back to the soil to replenish the
depleted nutrients.
The
more food we grow, the more flavors we are exposed to, and the more
vitamins and minerals are actually in our food. Win-win-win!
“Pulling weeds and pickin’ stones
Man is made from dreams and bones.
Feel the need to grow my own
‘Cause the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature’s chain.
To my body and my brain
To the music from the land.”
Man is made from dreams and bones.
Feel the need to grow my own
‘Cause the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain
Find my way in nature’s chain.
To my body and my brain
To the music from the land.”
- The Garden Song written by David Mallett
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