Harvest is an art
Top June’s Priorities Top Priorities in the Garden in theforGarden August
1. Lateonsummer Five ortender even 10young minutes Keep sowing watering. seeds to secure vegofall hand watering cut itlettuce, in summer Be gies summer long.won’t Sow your dill, heat. and cilansure to stick your finger in the soil and see how tro every three weeks to maintain a continuous supthesow water has penetrated. It surprises meevery evply.farAlso a few carrots, beets, kale, beans ery time month or so.how much water is needed to penetrate deep into the root zone. You may need to make Thin out around the fruitthe growing trees. wells plantsontoyour ensure water moves downward just up runsoracross the surTomato plantsrather shouldthan be tied supported. Also face.off the side shoots that are growing in the pinch crotches the side leaves and stem. 2. If you of planted potatoes feelmain free to sneak a few newhave potatoes for a meal. anyallbetIf you not already doneIt doesn’t so, plantget out your ter than fresh small potatoes. heat loving plants such as beans, tomatoes, peppers, 3. Be awareeggplant, of the fruit on your trees. annuals, Check for cucumbers, summer flowering etc. ripeness and pick as soon as possible to alleviLiftate andbear divide springconfrontations. bulbs that haveIf died andyour human you back. are This includes crocuses, snowdrops, daffooverrun with fruit, find someonetulips, in theand neighdils.bourhood that would jump at the opportunity to
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ne of the factors of growing a vegetable garden that is rarely touched upon is harvesting. Harvesting can be just as demanding as growing. There are optimal times and techniques particular to every fruit and veg. Cleaning, cooling, and storing will determine the quality and longevity of your produce before it hits your plate, or whether it becomes compost. Just think about garlic. The fussing usually starts sometime in May as the bulbs are swelling and the flowers begin to rear their heads (known as garlic scapes). The scapes must be picked. This will make the bulbs swell even more. Then sometime in later July, when the
A growing concern BY JONATHAN VAN WILTENBURG | jonathan_vw@yahoo.com
FRUITFUL WORK: Alex Devlin and Declan Paul, both 7, sell their harvest roadside in July.
ways be at top of mind when harvesting. Nobody wants stalk and leaves begins to wither, you pull the garlic. to grow all this nice produce and then have it go flaccid. Once pulled the garlic needs to be cured in a warm location with good air circulation for at least a week. When good and dry it should be cleaned with a brush, trimmed Pick in the Morning. Plants are living until the moof its roots, and then stored in a dry, cool location where ment you cut them. This means they are metabolizing it can be used up for the next eight months or so. as we cut/harvest. In the morning plants are just gearOr take cilantro. Optimally it is harvested in the early ing up for their day so are less metabolically active. They morning, pulled from the ground roots and all (not cut). have usually had all night to fill their tissues which will It is then rinsed in cold water (submerged in a bucket, make them turgid and optimal for harvest. not blasted with a hose) to remove the soil from the Get the field heat out. By immediately lowering the roots and the heat from the leaves. Then it should be re- temperature of the produce, you will slow down the frigerated in a mason jar half filled decay. This is very important Submerge Store with water with a plastic bag over for lettuce and greens. They will in in it. It will last for over a week. last for over a week if you subcold water fridge merge in cold water after cutting, Tomatoes should be picked at peak ripeness, left at room temper- Lettuce/ ✔️ ✔️ thoroughly dry, and then store ature, not refrigerated, and used as Greens in a closed container in the fridge. soon as possible. It’s hard to list all the do’s and ✖️ ✖️ That is three crops, all with dif- Tomato don’ts in this little column so if in ferent harvest needs! Every crop Potato ✖️ ✖️ doubt, take the time to do a quick is different. Some need cold temweb search on best harvesting ✔️ ✔️ peratures, others need room temp. Beans and post harvest practices for Some need a rinse, others need to Broccoli ✔️ ✔️ your crop. stay dry. There is a lot of great informaKale ✔️ ✔️ Out in the garden bed you have tion out there on how and when ✔️ ✔️ something very alive, but once cut Carrots to harvest and how to store your or pulled it starts the down spiral Beets fruit and veg to maintain the ✔️ ✔️ to decay. highest quality. ✖️ ✖️ It is our job to keep our fruits Garlic Just a warning, you will proband veg in a pseudo-alive state Squash ✖️ ✖️ ably want a bigger refrigerator. as long as possible until you get Happy gardening! ✖️ ✖️ around to eating it. This should al- Onion
Super Basic Rules for Harvesting:
Plant now for winter!
One of the best parts about living in Powell River is enjoying the great outdoors, especially when our mild coastal climate allows for fresh-from-the-garden flavour all year round! To learn more about winter gardening or to stock up on your seeding essentials, visit Mother Nature today.
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• August 2020 • prliving.ca
share harvest. dry out. As soon as they get Don’t letyour the cucumbers stressed they attention are more to susceptible to powdery mil4. Give some your compost pile. Flipdew andit spider mite infestations. ping is always a good idea. If it is dry and crumblyon and not breaking quickly you mayfor need Keep watering. This isdown especially important fruit add somecrops. water.They If it smells and is of sopping andtovegetable need plenty water. wet Make youaround may need withmove a tarp and let itinwells plantstosocover waterit will downward dry out. Remember, your compost pile is a living stead of laterally on the soil. Always put a finger in the system that needs adequate amounts water, soil after you finished to see how far the of water has air, carbon, and nitrogen for rapid and efficient penetrated. breakdown. It5. isWinter hedge-trimming time. that garden alert! YouRemember should plant outmany yourof thebeets, common hedges need some green growth left carrots, and chard. It is too late to plant behind to grow back. Laurels, privet, and yew are the seeds for vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, main exceptions you cansprouts. prune Take them aback cauliflower, or as Brussels trip hard to andthethey will grow back again. Cedar, cypress, and local nursery and purchase starts that were most other conifer hedges do not grow back from planted long ago and will mature in time. older wood. 6. If you haven’t already done so, pull out your Watch forand pests and disease. Be storage. on the alert powgarlic cure the bulbs for Alsofor watch dery mildew, spot, aphids, carrot flies, cabyour onionsblack and shallots and as they root begin to die bage white maggots. back you moths, can pulland andonion cure them, too. 7. Make a fall chore list. Autumn is a great time for moving and planting trees and shrubs as rain is plentiful and roots will have all winter to get established. 8. To keep those summer annuals beautiful, deadhead and prune them regularly. This should include your hanging baskets and pots, too. Give them a feeding once a month. 9. Sow your colourful biennial ornamentals for next year – things like poppies, foxgloves, English daisies, wallflowers, and forget-me-not’s. 10. Don’t forget to take a few photos of your garden this year for your records. It is always nice to look over the garden in subsequent seasons and years. The photos are also an excellent aid when you go to edit in the fall or spring. 11. Put your order in to a reputable bulb supplier, the sooner the better. Fall bulb planting is just around the corner.
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