July Gardening Calendar

Vegetables

• Blossom-end rot of tomato and peppers occurs when soil moisture is uneven. Water when soils begin to dry; maintain a 2-3 inch layer of mulch.
• Weeks 1: To minimize insect damage to squash and cucumber plants, try covering them with lightweight floating row covers. Remove covers once plants flower.
• Weeks 2: Dig potatoes when the tops die. Plant fall potatoes by the 15th.
• Weeks 3-4: For the fall garden, sow seeds of collards, kale, sweet corn and summer squash as earlier crops are harvested.
• Weeks 3-4: Set out broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower transplants for the fall garden.

• Cover grape clusters loosely with paper sacks to provide some protection from marauding birds.
• Week 1: Prune out and destroy old fruiting canes of raspberries after harvest is complete.
• Week 1: Blackberries are ripening now.
• Weeks 2-3: Apply second spray to trunks of peach trees for peach borers.

• Water frequently enough to prevent wilting. Early morning irrigation allows turf to dry before nightfall and will reduce the chance of disease.

• Remove infected leaves from roses. Pick up fallen leaves. Continue fungicidal sprays as needed.
• While spraying roses with fungicides, mix extra and spray hardy phlox to prevent powdery mildew.
• Keep deadheading spent annual flowers for continued bloom.
• Keep weeds from making seeds now. This will mean less weeding next year.
• Newly planted trees and shrubs should continue to be watered thoroughly, once a week.
• Provide water in the garden for the birds, especially during dry weather.
• Perennials that have finished blooming should be deadheaded. Cut back the foliage some to encourage tidier appearance.