Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
July, 2005
Regional Report
Pamper New Seeds and Transplants
Now through late August isn't the best time to sow seeds or transplant because it's just too hot and many seeds react with a hormonal dormancy that keeps them from sprouting. But if you must, keep the seeding area and soil moist and shaded, especially from noon through sunset.
Feed Fruiting and Blooming Plants
Continue watering and feeding the entire garden with a balanced fertilizer and manure or fish emulsion every other week for steady growth and food production. Foliar seaweed sprays help trees, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals withstand heat stress.
Pick, Pick, Pick
Keep harvesting beans, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes at least every other day to encourage continued production. If too many mature fruits are allowed to remain on the plant, it considers that its reproductive job is done and it won't put out more blossoms.
Freeze Produce
If your garden is producing faster than you can preserve it, it's easy to quick-freeze pieces. Slice or dice them, spread the pieces on a cookie sheet, and freeze. Pack the frozen pieces in bags or larger containers for use as desired. They'll lose their crispness when defrosted, but this is fine for recipes to be cooked.
Tend Roses
Continue removing spent blooms on roses, trimming to lightly shape bushes. Then feed lightly and water well. Tear suckers off to damage their basal cells to discourage their resprouting.
