Hello June!  By now, most people have their gardens planted and well underway and are just waiting for all the delicious vegetables and fruit to sprout out of the ground which will then be cooked, roasted or eaten raw!  Sounds easy right?  It basically is, but as gardeners, we all need to know a few things in order for our fruits and vegetables to be able to grow pest free and delicious.

One of the things we have to do is check our plants for pests; including aphids and cucumber beetles.  When you find pests, try to identify them. That way you can make treating them a little easier.  You can start by picking the pests off your plants, then you can try to make pest spray or talk to the professionals at the Marshall County Co Op.  Their experienced staff can guide you in the right directions with proper pest control.  After all, you work so hard to grow your plants, you definitely want to keep them growing!

Then there is providing nutrients for your plants.  Add compost or other amendments to your soil so your plants can thrive and produce!  It never hurts your garden to take this extra measure and your crop will thank you! And again, the Marshall County co-op carries compost, fertilizers and so much more.  Just stop by and ask them what they think will work best for your needs.

And don’t forget to water your garden properly!  Depending on rain may be ok, but what if there is a dry spell or it’s extra hot?  The Marshall County Co-Op has sprinklers for your large gardens and spray wands for your hoses.  And remember, Early morning (between 5:00am to 9:00 am) is the best time to water your garden. When you’re done watering it, the plant foliage dries quickly. This rapid drying of your plant foliage helps guard against the development of fungal diseases.

In early June, plant a second crop of vegetables in your garden if you can and want too.  In late June, you can start seeds for early fall vegetables.  Where you live determines which crops you can grow, such as green beans, corn, okra and cucumbers along with fall pumpkins.  Again, just ask the garden experts at the Marshall County Co-op. 

And did you know that on June 6^th its “National Gardening Exercise Day”? This day encourages everyone to maximize the benefits they reap from gardening by adding some stretches, some extra steps or squats to your gardening routine!  In Addition, June 13^th is “National Weed Your Garden Day”. Weeds can block out the sunlight and steal water from your crops.  They also crowd out your crops space and can actually camouflage pests and disease.  SO, on this day, make it a celebration!   Keep thinking how much your crops will love you for this!!

Have a great June and a great harvest!