Include the Veggie Patch in the Mid-Summer Gardening Refresh

If you have been growing a veggie patch – or even if it’s just a couple of tomato plants – mid-summer is the time to make sure everything is staked properly. When plants grow tall and the fruit is full they start to weigh down the branches, or worse, they rot on the ground. That’s such a shame after all the effort to date, to say nothing of the wait. Another benefit of staking is it allows for added air circulation. That helps to stave off diseases.

Staking Tomatoes – photo by Sarah Marcheschi

Staking is not just for tomatoes. Common veggie plants like squash, cucumbers, and beans also will benefit from a trellis or support of some kind. Loosely tie stems and vines to the support system with twine. Having a support system makes it easier to see when fruits are ripe and ready to be picked.

As is the case with perennials and annuals, some commonly grown herbs do well with a little deadheading, too. Frequent deadheading (pruning) will allow you to grow plants to the desired size and shape, and since you’ll want to harvest herbs for use in the kitchen, this is hardly a chore. Leafy plants like basil should be pruned to prevent flowers from forming. Pinch back the tips and any buds you see. Deadheading will delay the ageing process in woodier herbs, like thyme and rosemary, and will keep them producing new leaves.

Deadheading Basil – photo by Sarah Marcheschi