June in the Garden

June is a great time to plant tomatoes. The days are longer and the weather is warming, so plants can get a good start in preparation for hotter weather.

There are thousands of varieties of tomatoes, but it’s important to plant tomatoes suited to our climate on the coast. Plant tags yield a lot of information including days until harvest. Local nurseries can help and typically only stock what grows well in our area. The coast has fewer hot days than inland areas, so choosing a plant with less days until harvest will be a key to success.

Determinate tomato varieties have a limited growth pattern, typically staying bushier, which is good for container gardening. They usually produce all their fruit at one time. Indeterminate tomatoes will continue growing and producing fruit until killed by frost. They can grow to be huge plants. I’ve had a few take over my yard in the past. (Cherry tomatoes are a good example of an indeterminate tomato variety.)

Tomatoes need full sun and love being next to a south-facing wall for heat reflection. Stake them for support when you plant. People who have a south-facing stucco wall have great success with year-round producing plants.

Tomatoes don’t need as much water as you think, but they do need to be watered deeply and consistently. The droopiness of the plant is a good indicator whether it’s time to water. If your plant is wilting in the morning or late afternoon, it needs water. Don’t judge it by midday droop. I typi cally water once a week after the plant is established, deep-watering in the morning so it can dry off the rest of the day. Watering consis tently is even more important as the fruit matures. Overwatering leads to the fruit splitting, so your tomatoes will be tastier if they aren’t overwatered.

Tomatoes are easy to grow, but there can be problems. One giant horn worm, which is the caterpillar of a sphinx moth, can eat an entire tomato plant in one day! These guys are hard to spot, blending in with the plant until they are monsters, getting as round and long as your index finger. To get and keep the upper hand use Bacillus

As we roll into summer, the garden is starting to look lush and strong. Good things are happening out there! ✿ Garden Prep June gardening is all about preparing for higher temperatures in the coming months. Keep adding to your mulch throughout the summer to conserve water, keep roots cool and weeds under control. Pile mulch two to six inches deep under shrubs, trees, vines, flower and vegetable beds, remembering not to lay mulch against the trunks of trees and shrubs to prevent rot. ✿ Planting It’s time to plant tropicals like hibiscus, plumeria and bougainvillea. Separate and repot older cymbidium orchids if they are crowding their pots. In the new pot, surround the original root ball with coarse organic material that drains well. ✿ Watering Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation. Irrigating less often but more deeply promotes stronger root growth. Overwatering weakens plants, making them more susceptible to damage when the weather starts getting hot. Water citrus and avocado trees deeply every two or three weeks and mulch to maintain uniformly cool temperatures. Citrus roots are shallow and grow beyond the tree’s dripline, so make the basin area large. ✿ Fertilizer Well-nourished plants are better protected against insects and diseases and can withstand heat and water stress. Fish emulsion is my go-to for fertilizing. It’s stinky, but effective. Wear rubber gloves, otherwise the smell will linger on your hands. Also, beware if you have a dog. Mine goes nuts when I fertilize with fish emulsion, resulting in holes dug to China and dirt everywhere, not to mention a smelly dog! ✿ Pest & Disease Control You may see black sooty mold on your citrus caused by aphids. A good jet blast from the hose will help a lot. Spray every couple of days to keep the problem under control. Watch for powdery mildew on roses. While damper weather creates an environment for the mildew, the first line of defense is to spray with a blast of water in the morning to wash off existing spores. ✿ Pruning Thin the fruit evenly on each side to lessen strain on the tree, especially a young one. The general rule is to space fruit 5 to 6 inches apart. Citrus trees bear fruit produced on new wood, so prune entire branches (thinning) rather than shortening them (heading back). To redirect branches, trim them to a leaf pointing in the direction you want new growth to go. ✿ Miscellaneous Pick early and often to increase your yield. Veggies left on too long signal the plant to slow down production, especially beans, cucumbers, eggplants, squashes and tomatoes. Enjoy your bounty whether it’s fruit, veggies or flowers. Fresh cut flowers and homegrown produce are so satisfying!

thuringiensis aka Bt, available at nurseries as your best defense against these legendary caterpillars.

Blossom end rot is another problem to watch for. It strikes the fruit of tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. The end or bottom of the fruit sinks in, turns dark brown or black and gets really tough. But all is not lost. Calcium deficiency is the cause, so you can preempt the problem by amending the soil with a shot of calcium. Some forms are bone meal and egg shells. Keep

Giant horn worm

A FEW FUN FACTS: In the United States, more tomatoes are consumed than any other single fruit or vegetable. Technically the tomato is considered a fruit. Tomatoes are packed with vitamins A and C, plus calcium and potassium. Cooked tomatoes are actually better for you than raw ones, because cooking releases more beneficial chemicals. But, there is nothing better than popping a ripe, warm cherry tomato straight from the garden into your mouth.