Agromin - Thursday May 27 2010 at 5:37 PMGardeners can take advantage of the typically cool June weather in Southern California to plant summer vegetables, flowers and trees without worry of heat-related plant damage, say experts at Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products made from recycled organic material from over 50 Southern California communities.
Vegetables for Small Spaces: If you are limited in your vegetable garden space, consider planting vegetables that produce big quantities per plant. These include cucumbers, onions, peppers and tomatoes. Mount tomato plants on a trellis to free up even more space.
Plan Your Herb Garden Based On Water Needs: Many herbs require little water. Rosemary, English thyme, oregano, lavender and sage all do well with minimal watering and little shade. Other herbs such as basil, chives and cilantro require moist soil and indirect sun. Plan the placement of your herb plants according to water requirements. For longer life of herbs, pinch back flowers as soon as they appear. Cilantro and basil are examples of quick-flowering herbs. By pinching back, plants grow more leaves, and in some cases, can continue to produce for a year or more.
Plant Citrus Trees: Plant citrus trees in June for best results. Waiting until the hot weather months of July and August puts stress on trees when planted. Cooler temperatures afford the best conditions for tree planting. If unable to plant trees in June, wait until fall when the weather cools. Remember, when planting a tree, the hole should be at least twice a large as the tree's root system. After placing the tree in the hole, fill the hole with a mixture of soil conditioner and soil. Press firmly on the soil and water deeply and thoroughly. The soil should be moist at all times for the first three to four weeks following transplanting. Apply a two to three inch layer of mulch around the trunk to keep in moisture and to keep the soil cool.
Protect Your Garden From Animals: Many gardeners tend their vegetable plants with care only to see rabbits, squirrels or other animals eat the fruits of their labor. To protect the garden, purchase 3/4" wire mesh that rises two to three feet high and at least one foot deep into the ground. Bend the mesh wires away from the garden so rabbits cannot easily job over. A natural animal repellant is crushed hot chili peppers scattered around your garden. Both rabbits and squirrels will stay clear.
Landscaping With Tropical Plants: If a backyard tropical paradise is in the plans, June is the time to plant. Hawaiian bamboo, ferns, palms, banana trees, ginger, hibiscus, orchids and bougainvillea all do well. June's mild weather reduces the stress of planting or transplanting.
Not Too Early To Plant Pumpkins: October may be four months off, but now is the time to plant pumpkin plants so pumpkins are ready by Halloween. Plants should be six feet apart so that long vines can grow. The plants need lots of warmth and moisture to thrive. Yellow flowers will start to appear several weeks after planting. The flowers will develop into pumpkins after they are pollinated. Each pumpkin plant will produce three to five pumpkins. If you are interested in growing large pumpkins, keep only one pumpkin per plant so the plant can focus all its energy on the one fruit. Pumpkins will be ready for picking in three to four months.
For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.