Hi, tomato! Rub your inexperienced thumb and look at coming into the “Biggest Tomato” contest in close proximity to the conclude of July at this year’s El Paso County Reasonable. There will be prizes for initial and second location alongside with ribbons and, of course, bragging rights for a year. For info on how to enter, stop by https://elpaso.extension.colostate.edu/.
Meanwhile, here’s your listing of June gardening chores:
Early to mid-June
Drinking water constraints are in area. H2o is still a cherished commodity in Colorado and will be eternally.
Early June is all about planting. Nasturtium, marigold, zinnia, sunflowers, hyacinth bean vine and early morning glory seeds can be sown right in the soil.
Examine containers everyday, watering when needed they can dry out swiftly. Shield hanging containers from large winds. Acquire them off the hook and established them on the floor.
Herbs like basil, chives and parsley, to name a few, can also be developed from seed. Most herbs have to have no fertilizer and small drinking water. Reduce herbs early in the early morning and harvest just just before flowering.
Mulch 2-3 inches to keep humidity and minimize weeds. Continue to be on major of weeds before they get out of hand.
Transplants of tomatoes, cucumber, summertime squash, and pepper can be planted early June. Plant tomatoes deep. Eliminate the decreased leaves and bury two-thirds of the plant underground so the plant has a far better root method. New roots will develop along the buried stem and you are going to have a more robust, more healthy plant.
Specifically sow seeds of corn, lima beans, cantaloupe, pumpkin, watermelon and zucchini in early June.
Plant gladiolus corms in waves, weekly to lengthen the blooming period.
Lawn: if you haven’t fertilized nonetheless, this is the time to do it. It is the initially fertilization of the year.
Mid to late June
Frequent backyard upkeep commences. Deadhead perennials to persuade extra blooms. Stake leggy crops like delphinium and foxglove.
Many fruit trees, particularly apple trees, will lose tiny fruit around this time. It’s a normal thinning course of action referred to as June fall. You can do further hand thinning, spacing fruit 8 to 10 inches apart on branches this will maximize the excellent of your harvest.
Harvest asparagus spears until eventually they slender out. Leave some of the spears to expand into tall, fernlike vegetation that rejuvenate the roots for subsequent year’s plants.
Control the spread of raspberry vegetation by reducing again sucker expansion.
As lupine blooms fade, verify the plant for aphids. An infestation of these tiny white creatures can take place overnight and eliminate the plant. Spraying plants comprehensively with an insecticidal soap ought to get rid of them.
Prune spring flowering shrubs these as lilac, weigela and forsythia after they end blooming.
Pinch again aster and mums for bushier crops and a lot more flowers this drop.
Lawn health conditions turn out to be recognizable as June progresses. A few of the most typical health conditions in Kentucky bluegrass are ascochyta leaf blight, necrotic ring place and greenback place. If you have parts of lawn in stress or dying, convey a shoebox-dimension sample of 50 percent-lifeless, half-alive lawn to the Grasp Backyard garden Help Desk throughout business hrs and a person of the volunteers will evaluate the issue.
E-mail gardening thoughts to csumg2@elpasoco.com. For more details, take a look at facebook.com/ ColoradoMasterGardeners.EPC. To indicator up for courses, go to epcextension.eventbrite.com.
