~ July 21, 2010 ~

She Packs A Punch...
Mother Nature flexed her muscles once again last night and unleashed one heck of a storm. The sky lit up for hours, the rain came down in buckets and I could not believe the strength of the wind. Fortunately we did not lose power but I know that there were many homes without. That gal can really pack a punch. We received three and one-half inches here and I know that some areas received as much as five. That is a lot of rain in a short amount of time. Too bad most of it is lost to run off. It is times like last night when I wish I owned a rain barrel. Seems like a good idea to have one around.

Bitter Cucumbers?
A bitter taste in cucumbers is the result of stress that can be caused by a number of factors, including heredity, moisture, temperature, soil characteristics and disease. Most often this occurs during the hot part of the summer or later in the growing season.

Two compounds, cucurbitacins B and C, give rise to the bitter taste. Though often only the stem end is affected, at times the entire fruit is bitter. Also, most of the bitter taste is found in and just under the skin. Bitter fruit is not the result of cucumbers cross-pollinating with squash or melons. These plants cannot cross-pollinate with one another.

Often newer varieties are less likely to become bitter than older ones. Proper cultural care is also often helpful. Make sure your plants have the following:

• Well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
• Plenty of organic matter also helps.
• Mulch helps conserve moisture and keep roots cool during hot, dry weather.
• Adequate water especially during the fruiting season.
• Disease and insect control.

Source

Revitalize Herbs...
If your basil and thyme look like they need an extreme makeover you can revitalize them by cutting them back severely. This will stimulate a clean new flush of growth, free of any insect and disease damage incurred since spring.

Thump Goes The Melon...
Watermelon growers may have some pretty big fruit by now. You don't want to harvest your melons too early! Just check for these tell-tale indicators of ripeness:

• The underside ground spot turns from whitish to creamy yellow.
• The tendril closest to the melon turns brown and shrivels.
• The rind loses its gloss and appears dull.
• The melon produces a dull thud rather than a ringing sound when thumped.

The Cutting Gardener...
When gardens are blooming the way they have been lately it's a shame not to spread the beauty around. How? By bringing some of it inside! Before you try it yourself there are some procedures to follow if you really want to do it right:

Source

Plucking Petunias...
Deadheading petunias is a sure-fire way to keep them blooming all summer long. But sometimes gardeners have trouble knowing which ones stay and which ones go. Spent blossoms often look very much like unopened petunia buds. If you're unsure just remember that spent petunia blossoms are shrunken and have little substance to them and come off with a gentle tug. Immature buds feel full and hang on a little tighter.

Bulbs That Bloom In Autumn...
The savviest of Savvygardeners know that there are a number of autumn-blooming bulbs that really perk up the fall garden and landscape. Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) also known as meadow saffron, mysteria, or naked boys produces pink to lavender crocus-like flowers in the fall and there is no foliage present when the plants are in bloom. Dark green leaves will emerge in the spring, remain until summer, then turn yellow and die to the ground. After which, the flowers magically appear in the fall again.

Colchicums should be planted immediately after purchase or delivery in August or September or they will start to bloom in their packaging. Plant the corms in clumps, 2-3 inches deep in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Pretty!

Too Tall Turf?
If you've been away on vacation and your lawn is extra tall be careful about cutting too much at once. As a rule you should cut no more than one-third of the grass height at a time. If necessary, try setting your mower height to the highest setting for a first cutting. Then wait two-three days and cut again at a reduced height.

Finally...
"O for the sunshine and the motion of waves in a song! "

~ Walt Whitman, A Song of Joys