Maple Community Garden

1. Continue watering veggies regularly – every two days or so if it’s hot and dry.  Veggies like tomatoes are heavier water users and need regular fertilizing too.
2. Fertilize veggies – about once a week with diluted fish fertilizer (approximately 1/2 the recommended dose on label)
3. Fertilize container plants – every two weeks only until the end of August. You don’t want to encourage new growth that may freeze in the cooler fall/winter temperatures.
4. Harvest ripe produce often – make sure you get to enjoy the fruits and veggies of your labour!  This also helps reduce rodent and harmful insect activity as well as some plant disease.
5. Mulch plants around their base with compost, dry grass – to conserve water when the weather gets hot.
6. Monitor for insects – use organic methods for removal i.e. strong water spray will remove aphids. Learn about the difference between bad and good bugs! Here’s a link to an article we posted earlier in the year that provides some good info on garden allies, as well as do-it-yourself methods to avoid insect damage to your garden.   Important Note:  Please do not use Diatomaceous earth (DE) powder in Maple Community Garden as it is too difficult to control where the powder goes, and DE will also kill bees.    DIY Garden Pest Control
7. Remove weeds regularly – this keeps soil energy going into your plants instead.
8. Collect perennial seeds for future use or plant in fall.

SUMMER PLANTING FOR FALL & WINTER HARVESTS

Veggies planted throughout the summer have many advantages. You can tap into the sun’s warmth to help grow strong mature plants which withstand the cold of fall and winter.  Here are some great choices.

Turnips – sow seeds from May- August for harvest through to spring

Kale & Collards – seeds best started early in May so transplants could be used in the summer. Taste improves after a frost, and most Kale and Collards make it through the winter here.

Carrots – sow seeds for “Bolero” or “Royal Chantenay” through July for a late fall harvest

Leeks – choose winter hardy varieties such as “Siegfried Frost”.  Plant mid-June for harvest through to spring.

Swiss Chard – plant mid-June for harvest through to spring

Purple Sprouting Broccoli – gets to be a large plant so don’t start too many! Plant the end of June/early July for harvest the following spring.

Spinach – plant seeds throughout the summer and fall for harvest through to spring.