With our promised rain for this weekend and next week, be sure to prepare your seeding trays and your garden beds to transplant whatever’s available at nurseries.  Seeding and transplanting will both be more successful when the entire area of soil is moist to at least a six-inch depth.  And, as you winter-prune your fruit trees and perennials, you can propagate the trimmings to share with fellow gardeners.
 
Seeding

• Some seeds to start either in trays or in the soil include celery, chard, cilantro, kale, leeks, lettuces, mustards, green and bulb onions, parsley, peas, radishes, and spinaches.
• Sow root crops like beets and carrots and turnips directly into the soil where they’ll mature. Their long roots want to grow straight down without being interrupted or grow curly because they’ve hit a rock or been transplanted (since you can't really position that long skinny root to be really straight).
• For wildflowers, scatter directly where they’ll grow.  Sow some right before the promised rain and another batch right after the rain so both batches of seeds can lodge in moist soil from the first rain and then get another sprinkling with the next rain to settle the seeds in even further.
• Plant garlic cloves, bulb onion sets, and shallots directly into the soil where they’ll mature. Once they’ve extended their roots, they don’t like being disturbed without a setback.

 
Transplanting

• Transplant more cool-season perennial roots like artichoke and asparagus crowns and rhubarb rhizomes, grapes and berry vines, and strawberries, along with broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chard, chives, cilantro, kale, leeks, lettuces, mustards, parsley, and spinaches.
• Of the warm-season crops, transplant ONLY tomatoes, which do fine when placed into the chilly soil.  However, DON'T PLANT ANYTHING ELSE that thrives in warm weather, like cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and squash, even if they’re in the nursery.  If you transplant these now, they’ll just sit and pout at you, as if angry that you’ve stuck them into cold soil, and they’ll never really recover and thrive even once the weather and soil stay consistently warm.  Best to wait until the weather is consistently above 70 degrees, and the soil feels barely cool to the touch (test with the palm of your hand).  Then, the transplants will thrive as they develop in the warmth.

 
Use Prunings To Propagate New Plants

• Take cuttings of fig trees that have about 8 nodes (where the leaves emerge from the stem), cut just below the bottom node, place into a 1-gallon pot with either soil or potting mix, water in, and place in bright light to root.  In a couple of months, tug on the cutting, and if it resists it probably has developed some initial roots.  Keep moist in the container through the summer and into the fall as it develops foliage.  Transplant then, once the beating heat of summer has passed but the soil is still nice and warm to help the extensive root system develop more fully as it gradually acclimates to cooler weather for overwintering.  Remove any fruits that form so all the plant’s energy goes into extending its root system.  Next June and August you’ll have a strong plant and a great crop!    
• Dig clumps of perennials, separate into smaller groups, and replant.  To propagate perennial plants like Justicia and sage and geraniums, cut a branch right below the 6th or 7th node.  Keep the top 4 or 5 leaves, but cut larger ones in half crosswise to lessen the amount of foliage that must be supported as the roots develop.  If you remove too many entire leaves instead of leaving these half-leaves, there’s the risk that a pet or other animal (or you) will break too many off so the plant can’t do its photosynthesis to enable the plant to root.

 
Frost Still Possible

• The end of January is the “average” last frost for our area, but higher altitudes may still get some frost a bit later.
• Frost is most likely on dry, windless, clear nights.
• Plants are less susceptible to frost damage when they have been sufficiently watered so the soil or planter mix remains barely moist.
• Frost settles straight down, so best to provide coverings directly above plants.  Side coverings can be additionally helpful, but the top coverings are critical.
• Keep frost-protection coverings, especially those made of plastic sheeting, away from directly touching the foliage, or the foliage may more readily freeze.

 
More Gardening Tips
For more timely gardening tips, see January and February.

1.  Lettuce plant protected by juice bottle, 2.  Bottle removed, 3.  Plant harvested leaving 2 innermost leaves to continue growing, 4.  Protective bottle replaced onto plant.

     Yay for the wonderful rains that dribbled and torrented our gardens on late Sunday and Monday! Lightning blasts and thunderous claps set off neighbors’ security lights, and then the soft pitter-patter on our roof became heavier downpours.   Gentle drops turned into bucketfuls.  By daytime on Monday, the initial onslaught evolved into alternate sun and rain and drizzle that is best for slowly and consistently absorbing into the soil.  
     This pausing between bouts of rain is important to allow the water filling the air pores in the soil to drain out before the next batch of water comes down.  If this drainage can’t happen, the new water flows off of the surface of the soil and into gutters or the street, which of course is a lost resource.
     Such delight that I’m sure only we gardeners appreciate fully!

Gardening tasks right after rainstorms

1. No stomping in the garden.  With all the water filling the air pores in the soil for hours after a good rain, you don’t want to walk in the garden because your weight will literally push out the water and compress the soil particles, which will result in roots that can’t breathe or grow between the particles.  Wait at least a full day until you walk in the garden, even in the pathways.  If you absolutely must walk in the garden, then lay down a broad piece of lumber or garbage can top or something similar so your weight is spread out.  
2. Dig gently when transplanting seedlings or planting bulbs.  Move the soil as little as possible.  Remove a scoopful with a small hand trowel, place the seedling or bulb in, and gently crumble the soil back on top to avoid compressing the soil.  Sprinkle with just enough water to settle the soil around the plant or bulb.
3. When rain is promised again later this winter – or even when you apply overhead watering throughout the year – make a point of doing any digging or harvesting activity the day beforehand so you’ll not be tempted to do so until two days after the rain to allow the rain to drain naturally and retain the air pores.

Protecting plants from frosts

1. Frost is likely on dry, windless, clear, cold nights. Be concerned when temperatures in the high- to mid-30s are forecasted, especially for lower areas in your garden like the bottom of a hill or against a fence that don’t have good air circulation to sweep the cold further away.
2. Plants are less susceptible to frost damage when they have been sufficiently watered, so soil or planter mix remains barely moist. However, more water may stimulate new growth or drown the plant, since roots and foliage don't circulate moisture quickly during cold weather. 
3. Provide protection of seedlings with mini-greenhouses made from clear plastic milk or water jugs with their caps removed and their bottoms cut off. Place the jugs over the seedlings after the bed has been watered well. Press the jugs about one-half inch deep into the soil to prevent the entry of pests such as cutworms at the soil level and to lessen the chance of the jug being blown away during windy gusts. Remove the jugs when the foliage begins to crowd inside the jug, or when night temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.  
4. Frost settles directly down, so provide protection for larger plants from above as well as from the sides. 
5. Keep frost-protection coverings, especially those made of plastic sheeting, away from the foliage, or the foliage may more readily freeze. 
6. If plants are damaged by frost, don't remove any of the dead foliage or branches. Plants may look messy, but these damaged portions will protect sensitive growth further inside the plants from later frosts. Wait to start trimming the dead stuff until new  growth begins again in spring – you may find that branches which appeared dead are indeed alive and well after all. 
7. Don’t fertilize frost-damaged plants until spring growth begins, when more frost is unlikely.

For more timely gardening tips, see January.

Is your garden growing frustratingly slowly?  Have you sown seeds weeks ago and only a couple have emerged?  Even though it's been pleasantly in the 70s during daytime, night-time temperatures have been only in the high mid- to high- 40s here in my Pasadena garden, and this means that everything grows sssslllllooooooowwwwwlllllyyyy.  Apparently the cooler night-time temperatures – not the warmer daytime temperatures - are what determines how the garden proceeds.  Here are some other considerations to help you feel that you’re doing the most you can for your garden now, while being patient and appreciative when you do see something green growing.
 
Direct-Seeding
     Seeds that are large enough to handle easily – like chard and peas – and root crops – like beets and carrots – should be sowed directly where they’ll mature.   
     For the larger seeds this means avoiding the 10 days or so of delay when they’re transplanted later and need that extra time to resettle into their new homes. 
     For root crops, this enables the roots to grow straight down into the prepared soil – although we all enjoy the funny shapes some carrots develop when their fine roottips must swerve around an obstruction. 
     The only drawback is that, for those of us whose garden is some distance from our homes, we need to visit the just-sown space frequently to make sure that conditions continue to be right for germination.
 
Starting in Trays for Later Transplanting
    Most seeds can be started in trays and transplanted later, except for carrots.
     The advantage is that trays can be kept closer to or in our homes for frequent monitoring. 
     The disadvantage is that the little plants will need to be transplanted into the garden later, with probably some loss of some of the seedlings and delay as little plants reacclimate to their new homes.
 
Some Tricks for Each Veggie
Bok Choy and Tatsoi - Space about an open hand-width apart to allow foliage to develop fully before harvesting.
Broccoli – Space about 2 feet apart to allow foliage to develop fully without crowding the next plant.
Cabbage, Cauliflower – Space a good 3 feet apart to allow for full spread of foliage before the single head is harvestable.  Since these are one-time harvests, you can place them away from general traffic since you'll need to access the area only that once.
Carrots – Seeds generally take a full 3 weeks to germinate.  They’re not strong enough to push through crusted soil, so are best sown with radishes which will germinate within a couple of days and then keep the soil “moving” as they develop so the carrots don’t have to struggle to come up.  Even so, my carrots that were sown almost two months ago are just now coming up.    
Chard and Kales and Mustards – Space at least a foot apart to allow for full development of leaves before harvesting (leaving several smaller inner leaves to continue developing).
Cilantro – Sow in blocks so you can harvest by cutting batches of stems an inch or so above soil level.  They may or may not resprout more harvestable stems before they bolt and go to seed with the merest amount of warmth.
Leeks – Transplant at least 2 inches apart to allow full development before pulling up at harvest. 
Lettuce – Transplant a hand-width apart since you’ll be harvesting outer leaves and leaving the inch-size inner leaves to continue developing.   
Onions – Space green onions only an inch apart, since they won’t spread much further before harvesting.  Space dime-size bulblets about 4 inches apart, since these will develop into 3-inch globes when they're ready to harvest in late May and June.
Parsley – Sow in wide blocks where they’ll mature so you can harvest by cutting stems an inch above the soil level so more stems can develop for harvesting again in another month or two.
Peas -- Last year, I resowed my peas three times between October and January, assuming that the previous sowings had been eaten or rotted...and then they all came up in February. 
Radishes – They come up quickly, so are great to sow with carrots that need the help to emerge.
Spinach – Space varieties that mature to only about 4 inches wide a stretched-out-hand width, and a bit wider for larger-leafed varieties, since you'll keep outer leaves harvest and allow the inner ones to continue developing.
 
Sprinkle Mulch Onto Seedbed
     Sprinkle a very thin layer of fine-grained mulch over a batch of just-sown seed so it’ll keep the seeds in place and the soil barely moist and therefore lessen crusting of the soil and encourage germination and development.  This works especially well with carrots since the seeds aren't very strong in being able to push up through crusted-over soil.
 
Sprinkle Water Onto Seedbed
     Gently sprinkle water onto the seedbed or trays, moving frequently and repeatedly back and forth to thoroughly moisten the bed at least an inch deep without blasting the seeds around.
     Repeat this gentle sprinkling every other day or so, preferably in the late afternoon so the soil remains moist overnight and into the next day to encourage germination.
 
Warm Beds with Clear Plastic
     To help concentrate daytime warmth and increase germination, cover the bed with clear plastic sheeting. Anchor down the edges with soil or rocks to keep out slugs and other critters who love the succulent sprouts, and to keep the sheeting from blowing away.
 
Protect Beds from Critters
     If critters like skunks and other diggers love searching for slugs in your just-sown beds, stretch fruit-tree netting over the bed and anchor the edges so they can’t get into the area.
         If other munchers love those just-transplanted seedlings, cover them with plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off.  But remove them once the plants start peaking out of the tops! 
     If flying insects like cabbage moths are flitting about, cover the area with spunbonded polyester landscape fabric to keep them out.

More December Garden Tasks
See ​December Monthly Tips 
​

       What is Compost?  Is it different from mulch?

                               Why Make Compost?

                    How to Start:  An Enclosed Bin
​

                          How to Start:  An Open Pile

    How to Start:  Sheet, Lasagna, Worm Composting

      Plant Materials to Use:  Moist Greens = Nitrogen

        Plant Materials to Use:  Dry Browns = Carbon

                               Materials to Avoid: 
    Meat, bones, dairy, fat, oil, feces from meat-eating
           animals, diseased or pest-infested plants,
          herbicide-treated plants, weeds and seeds

            Putting Materials Together:  Small Pieces,
                      1 Part Green to 2 Parts Brown

                Constructing A Pile in Layers:  3x3x3
       Coarse brown base, small green, small brown,
         dirt or compost or potting mix, moisten, etc.

                            How Long Will It Take?

                              When Is It Done?

                                 Troubleshooting

               How Do I Use Compost In My Garden?
  Benefits sandy soil, clay soil, soil structure; nutrients
​       are more immediately available to plant roots;
         resulting in healthier plants that more easily
                          resist diseases and pests

​A home composting system can be as simple as gathering together bits and pieces from meal preparation and mixing with dried leaves from the garden, or as complex as processing measured ingredients in specific steps and exacting timeframes.  It’s up to your choice of how you spend your time and effort to achieve your desired results.  Here are some considerations.
 
What is compost? Is it different from mulch?
Compost is decomposed organic material that you can no longer tell what its original ingredients were.  Mulch is also of organic material but may be partially decomposed or not at all, and is generally laid on top of the soil.
 
Why Make Compost?

• Composting continues Nature’s recycling plan.  A diverse pile of kitchen and garden waste will eventually decompose; but when materials are purposely chosen, mixed together, kept moist and aerated, the process accelerates with beneficial microbes, bacteria, and fungi doing the work. 
• According to CalRecycle (https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/homecompost), “Home composting is an effective and efficient way to dramatically reduce your waste stream at home, while doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint. Organic material sent to landfill creates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of our changing climate. By making compost, you are creating a valuable soil amendment that you can use to benefit your landscape, boost plant growth and sequester carbon.”

 
How to Start

• Home composting can be accomplished in an enclosed bin or tumbler, or in a pile that’s either free-standing or corralled with wire or palettes or netting. 
• Sheet or Lasagna Composting entails layering materials on top of a garden bed and letting it incorporate shallowly into the soil as it decomposes.
• Vermi (Worm) Composting requires a dedicated container and can be accomplished indoors.  It’s best used when only a small amount of kitchen waste is available; and close attention to the worms’ needs is required.

 
Plant Materials to Use

• Moist Greens = Nitrogen = fresh grass clippings, green leaves, vegetable and fruit trimmings, coffee grounds, tea leaves, egg shells, weeds, vegetable plants; and manure from herbivorous animals like chickens, turkeys, cows, horses, goats or rabbits.
• Dry Browns = Carbon = dry grass clippings, small twigs, dried leaves, hay, shredded paper, wood chips, sawdust (not from treated wood).
• Size = Smaller pieces, especially of dry brown material, will decompose more quickly.
• Proportion = For quickest decomposition, use about 1 part nitrogen/green materials to 2 parts carbon/brown materials in each layering.

 
Materials to Avoid
To reduce the potential for pests or odors, avoid animal products like meat, bones and dairy; anything with fat or oil like baked goods and salad with dressing; feces from meat-eating animals like dogs, cats, and humans; diseased or pest-infested plant matter, herbicide-treated grass or plants, perennial and seed-bearing weeds, and hay (which has weed seeds).
 
 
Constructing a Pile

• Plan for a compost pile that is three feet wide by three feet deep by three feet tall. Smaller piles may not achieve sufficiently high temperatures to kill bad organisms and weed seeds. Larger piles can achieve composting temperatures more easily, but need more frequent turning to ensure optimum oxygen supply.
• There’s no need to purchase a “starter” or inoculant.  The plant material, soil, and previous compost can serve this purpose.
• Start with a 4-6” base layer of coarse dry brown materials to allow air penetration under the pile.
• Add a 2-3” layer of green materials.
• Add a 2-3” layer of smaller-sized brown materials.
• Top with a dusting of dirt or unscreened, mature compost or used potting mix.
• Wet the pile, making sure that the edges as well as the center are equally moistened.
• Continue making additional layers in this order and end by sprinkling the top layer well.
• During hot and dry weather, you may have to moisten the pile more frequently between adding more layers.
• During wet weather, you may need to cover the pile to shed off rainwater.

 
How Long Will It Take?

• Composting can be accomplished with more effort and faster results, or with less labor and a longer finish that may not kill all weed seeds or pathogens. The time of year and size and type of materials will also affect the rate of decomposition.  Depending on these variables, the process may be completed in a month or in a year.

• A “hot” pile requires turning of all materials and remoistening the pile every couple of days. Finished compost may be available in a month or two.
• A “cold” pile that is left to decompose by itself with no turning may result in much material that doesn’t break down and must be screened out when the pile is deconstructed.  Finished compost make take 6 months or a year.

 
When Is It Done?

• Compost is ready when its texture is uniform, dark brown and crumbly with a pleasant, earthy aroma, and you can’t recognize any of the original materials.  Any remaining chunks of material can be screened out and put back into a new pile.
• There is no “expiration” date for finished compost.  You can let it continue to “cure” before applying to the garden.

 
Troubleshooting

• If the pile gets too wet or dense with food scraps, it will smell bad, and composting will slow down or stop altogether because the beneficial microbes – bacteria and fungi – decomposing the ingredients  need oxygen to live and have died. Add more carbon/brown material, turn and fluff the pile with a pitchfork to incorporate air.
• If the pile is too dry, decomposition will stall, and ants may set up nests.  Add more nitrogen/green material, turn and remoisten the pile; ants will move elsewhere.
• If insects, rats, racoons appear, there may be meat or fatty foods in the pile.  Remove these items from the pile, turn the pile and remoisten to increase temperature; use an animal-proof bin.

 
How Do I Use Compost in My Garden?
Compost is an excellent amendment for soil of any type.  Its benefits include:

• Helping sandy soil to retain water.
• Helping clay soil to drain better.
• Improving soil structure friability.

• Nutrients are more immediately available to plant roots.
• Healthier plants can more easily resist diseases and pests.

Salvias continuing their year-round bloom

     I do love gardening at this time of year, when air temperatures are in the 70s and soil temperatures are still warmish.  Seeds germinate easily, and transplants galore are available at nurseries.  But the munchers are also active – my entire batch of seedlings were beautifully sprouting one day, without their baby leaves the next day, and even stems shorn to the soil level the next.  And this was when my seed trays were six feet in the air on top of a rack! Another reason to be relieved and thankful that we gardeners aren’t limited to what we can grow at home, that we have our local nurseries and online resources!
 
Pumpkins Alive!
     Given the end-of-the-month festivities, toast -- don't toss -- your pumpkin seeds when you carve your Jack O'Lantern. Separate the seeds from the stringy pulp by washing the seeds well. Spread them on a cookie sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt if desired. Toast them for three or four minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, stir, and toast another two or three minutes until they're evenly golden. Cool them to room temperature, and enjoy!
 
Plants Overwintering Edibles
     The entire slew of cool-season veggies that love the cool weather and will provide a wide range of flavors and textures and colors for your culinary delight – including artichokes, asparagus, fava beans, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, chives, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, radishes, rhubarb, sage, spinaches, shallots, and thyme.
     Just about any broccoli variety will do well in our area. After harvesting the single head, many little bitesize florets will appear at seemingly every node (where the leaf emerges from the stem).  For a milder taste, try a cross between broccoli and cauliflower – sometimes called “broccoflower”, that forms a brilliant chartreuse, beautifully pointed head; Romanesco is one variety.
     Plant asparagus crowns at least six inches deep, and mulch them heavily with manure.  Winter rains and later irrigation will slowly wash the nutrients down to the root zone.
     Cole crops like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kohlrabi frequently develop long stems before their first leaves, so transplant them up to the first set of leaves to prevent their developing into weak, leggy plants that flop over.
     Plant garlic cloves now so they’ll develop strong root systems over the winter, and leaf production can begin early in the spring, resulting in a larger head next summer.
     Also plant strawberry plants now so they’ll develop their strong root systems over the winter.  In early spring, they’ll shift their energy to their leaves and blossoms. 
 
Flower Bulbs
     For a cover crop of flowers before, during, and after spring bulb bloom, sow seeds or plant seedlings of low-growing annual bloomers after you've planted the bulbs. Think of color contrasts such as purple pansies with yellow daffodils or white alyssum with red tulips. Good choices include calendulas, pansies, Iceland poppies, primroses, dwarf snapdragons, dwarf stock, and violas.
     Separate and replant crowded clumps of flower bulbs, especially if they’re already sprouting. For those that bloom in early spring, place them near deciduous trees so they’ll show their color before  the trees leaf out.
 
Change Watering Frequency
     Help overwintering plants harden off by changing your irrigation schedule. Cooler weather slows evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plant foliage, so irrigation is needed less often. So, decrease the number of times -- but not the length of time -- you water. This change will still provide water to deep roots while allowing for longer periods for the soil to dry in between waterings, and it doesn't encourage new, frost-tender growth. 
     The depth of the watering is always dependent on the depth of the plants' root systems according to their genetics. For example, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard all need water down to about 12 inches so their entire root systems will be fully hydrated. So, each watering must be long enough to allow water to filter that deeply.
 
Make Plants Cold-Hardy
     Feed all overwintering plants with a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus, high-potassium fertilizer to help them become cold-hardy.

More Garden Tasks
     For more possibilities to accomplish in your garden, see October Tips and November Tips.

Starting seeds in containers and in the soil.

     During this continuing 100+ temperatures in my garden, we wishfully look forward to cooler weather and enjoying that whole new set of veggies and posies.  First, some suggestions on getting seeds started.  Then, I’ll review the results of my tomato harvest from this summer so you can compare with yours and perhaps add a couple of new varieties for next year’s consideration!
 
SOWING FALL AND WINTER EDIBLES
      From now through January and perhaps even February, we can sow and transplant the cool-season edibles. 
     Soil temperature optimums to germinate these seeds are 50-75 degrees, so be forewarned that you may need to resow seeds a couple of times as the weather cools before you get good germination.
     Last year, I resowed my peas four times over a two-month period, and then they all came up at once!  They do so when they're ready and their environment is what they want!

Here's a list of which seeds to sow using the three sowing techniques.  Note that some seeds can be started both in the soil and in trays.
 
Directly sow these seeds into soil, in a "nursery" bed so you can keep your eye on the progress and keep moist and a bit shaded -- chard, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce (especially romaine types and small-heading Bibb and buttercrunch types, which overwinter well with minimal damage from light frosts), green and long-day bulb onions (which will mature during the lengthening days of next spring and early summer), parsley, spinaches (especially savoy types for more frost resistance).
 
Directly sow these seeds where they'll mature (no transplanting) -- fava beans, beets, carrots, garlic cloves, peas, radishes, shallots.
 
Start these seeds in trays or other containers for later transplanting -- artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chard, chives, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce (especially romaine types and small-heading Bibb and buttercrunch types, which overwinter well with minimal damage from light frosts), green and long-day bulb onions (which will mature during the lengthening days of next spring and early summer), parsley, rhubarb, spinaches (especially savoy types for more frost resistance).
 
2020 TOMATO REVIEW
 
     Despite the mid-March shutdown due to COVID-19 and consequent cancellation of Tomatomania events where I usually purchase my tomato plants, I did manage to find most of my favorite varieties at local nurseries.  I grew 20 plants of 14 varieties that resulted in 603 fruits.
 
167 Mid- to Large size fruits
3 Ace 55 – blah flavor
2 Big Rainbow – ok flavor
2 Black From Tula – excellent flavor
20 Black Krim – excellent flavor
110 Celebrity (4 plants) – excellent flavor
6 Cherokee Green – ok flavor
13 Cherokee Purple (2 plants) – excellent flavor
11 Chocolate Stripes – ok flavor
 
436 Small and Cherry size fruits
66 Chocolate Cherry – excellent flavor
109 Chocolate Sprinkles (2 plants) – excellent flavor
70 Flamme – blah flavor bordering on tart
15 Isis Candy – good flavor
28 Red Cherry – ok flavor
148 Sungold (2 plants) – excellent flavor
 
For more gardening info, see October Monthly Tips
 

     We’ve certainly all been affected by the smoke continuing to be a nuisance throughout our area because of wildfires both nearby (The Bobcat Fire is closest to me) and further away (throughout the state!).  Besides the inconvenience of keeping us indoors with the air conditioning running, our concerns run to the safety of our vegetable garden harvests.  Depending on how close you are to a fire, whether within range of burning structures and considerable ash, or merely smoky air and a few scattered ashes settled onto your soil, these two articles will provide you with the considerations you can make regarding eating your produce or not.
 
1.   Is it safe to eat my garden produce affected by wildfires?
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-expert/featured/it-safe-eat-my-garden-produce-affected-wildfires
 
Q:  We have a lot of smoke in our area, is it safe to eat produce that has been affected by wildfires?
A:  First and foremost, stay safe when gardening in an area that is experiencing smoke and ash from wildfires. Avoid gardening and other outdoor activities when air quality ratings are in unsafe ranges. Wildfires produce a lot of particulate matter and large pieces of ash (gray gritty material) that can be moved long distances and be a health hazard. You can get an estimate of your area's air quality here: www.airnow.gov
     Once the air quality has reached safe levels to be outdoors, then you'll want to assess your garden. Until we get our fall rains you may see a lot of ash on garden surfaces including your plants. Many folks in our urban areas may see only a thin layer of ash, but if you live closer to the wildfire or where the wind was depositing ash there may be heavier amounts. Use your best judgment and avoid creating clouds of ash that you might accidentally breathe in.
     Don't use a leaf blower to clean plants or your garden; just a gentle spray of water from a hose will work and try to move the ash into ornamental landscaped areas like turf grass or shrubs rather than areas growing edible plants. Wear a face covering at a minimum while doing this, wash your hands afterwards, and avoid tracking ash into your house on your shoes or clothes.
     Rinse the produce off outside (with a hose or watering can) and then give a second or third rinse in the sink indoors.
     Now getting to your question about safety of garden produce after a wildfire: The produce was exposed to smoke and may have ash on it. The smoke and ash won't be able to necessarily penetrate deep into the fruit or vegetable and so rinsing well should remove any residues. Rinse the produce off outside (with a hose or watering can) and then give a second or third rinse in the sink indoors. Peeling (for example removing apple or tomato skins) and removing the outer leaves of leafy greens will also reduce your risk. And wear a face covering as need, wash your hands after handling the produce, and avoid tracking ash into your house on your shoes or clothes.
     Again, use your best judgment in all of this. If your garden has a heavy layer of ash, was located near a structure fire (which creates different toxins than a forest fire), or you are at all uncomfortable - when it doubt, throw it out (into the compost pile).
 
2.   The University of California has a research-based publication on produce safety and wildfires that you might find useful: https://ucanr.edu/sites/SoCo/files/315093.pdf . This publication also talks about soil testing and other things to think about before planting next year's garden. Note: this source recommends wearing an N95 mask but these are hard to find due to the current COVID-19 health situation needs. 

Stay safe out there!

For what to do in the garden once the air is clean enough to breathe heavily out there, go to September Monthly Tips.
​

Fuyu persimmon putting out two differently-shaped fruits - pointed ones like Hachiya on left, and regular                                     flat Fuyu on right.

     Boy, what a way to blast into our cool-crop growing season - with threatened 115-degree heat for this weekend here in Pasadena.  Certainly brings back torrid memories of 116- degree heat a couple of years ago that fried a batch of my tomato plants, even with the deep watering I'd accomplished several days ahead of the blast.
     So, first off, go deep-water your garden NOW so the moisture can sink down to infuse the entire root system of whatever plants you still have producing in the garden before the heat actually hits.  For some of you, that's tomorrow.  For me in Pasadena, it's apparently Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
     Second helpful measure to take before the heat is to cover plants lightly with cheesecloth or some sort of shade cloth, spunbonded polyester landscape fabric that will allow some light in but cut the blasting rays of the intensely hot sun.
     After the heat, the first thing to do is sprinkle the entire plants to help them rehydrate their leaves, spraying both topsides and undersides of all foliage.  I'd leave the cloth coverings on the plants for at least another week or so so they're not subjected to more intense sun now that they've been damaged.
      Also, deep-water to make sure root zones are fully hydrated.
     However, DON'T prune any dead-looking leaves and other damage that may appear next week.  You don't want to stress the plants even more by cutting off any browned foliage.  Despite any need you may have to neaten up affected plants, wait until you see new growth emerging - which may be more than a month - to see what actual damage occurred.  You'll be surprised how much more new foliage will appear in the areas that you thought were dead.  That's the time for you to trim off the dead stuff and even up any wayward growth.    
     More on this after the blast!

Transition Time in the Garden
     September and March are Southern California’s transition times in the garden, beginning their shifts from hot to cold crops (September) or cold to hot crops (March).  The hangers-on plants from the previous season are still producing but slowing down.  Seedlings for the coming season are just becoming available at stores, and seeds will begin germinating because of the changing air and soil temperatures. 
     But because we don’t know what kind of weather the next couple of months will bring, we can sow and transplant a last batch of warm-season crops like beans and cucumbers, okra, pepper and squash – as long as their maturity dates are no more than about 70-80 days, by which time it certainly (!) will be too cool for them to ripen properly.  And if the weather gets too cool before them, at least we tried a few in case the weather would have complied.
     If you want to concentrate now on starting cool-season crops, it’s time to get the soil beds cleared and amended so they can “cure” for a couple of weeks of microorganism activity before sowing and transplanting.  The mixture of manure and compost and other amendments like coffee grounds that have been incorporated and well watered will heat up as the microorganisms do their thing; when the soil feels comfortable again after a couple of weeks, you can sow seeds and transplant seedlings without risk of overheating them.
     So spend time now purchasing seeds of the crops you’ll be sowing.  
     The seeds of crops that will germinate at the top optimum soil temperature range of 85 degrees include asparagus, beet, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Swiss chard, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leek, onion, parsley and radish.  So, sow these as soon as you can.
     Crops whose top range is a bit cooler – 75 to 80 – include amaranth, artichoke, arugula, fava bean, celery, endive, fennel, lettuce, mache, mustard, parsnip, pea, radicchio, rutabaga and spinach.  So wait another month or so to sow these.
     All of these have minimum temperatures down to 60 or 70 degrees, so keep repeat sowing them through the fall and winter and early spring for continuous harvests.
     If you have seed packets that are a couple of years old, the seeds may still be viable but with a lower germination rate, so sow them pretty thickly to see if you’ll get enough to germinate for your family’s use.
     Keep seedbeds moist and shaded from hot afternoon sun until the seedlings develop two to four true leaves.  Mulch the soil lightly to hold moisture for better germination
     Several companies offer individual varieties and collections of California wildflowers that are grouped by color or geographic area or other characteristics such as drought resistance.
     Bulbs to plant for spring bloom can be purchased now for first-choice quality. These include alliums, amaryllis, anemones, brodiaeas, crocuses, daffodils, freesias (so fragrant!), fritillarias, galanthus, baby glads, glory-of-the-snows, grape and Dutch and wood hyacinths, Dutch irises, ixias, leucojums, lycoris, montbretias, narcissus, paperwhites, peonies, ranunculus, scilla, snowdrops, sparaxis, tigridia, tritonia, triteleia, tulips, dog-tooth violets, watsonias, and winter aconites. 
     Choose big, plump bulbs, as these have the most stored food and will produce the largest and most numerous blooms over the longest period of time. They cost a bit more, but they'll provide a great deal more pleasure when they bloom. 
     Refrigerate hyacinths and tulips for six to eight weeks before planting them in November.  However, keep them away from apples and bananas, whose ethylene gas will destroy the flower bulbs ability to bloom.

More Garden Tasks
For more garden tasks, see September Monthly Tips.

Here's a walk through a garden showing how many of these repurposed tools can be utilized.

     Dreaming about buying that new "perfect" tool?  Forget it.  Recycling and repurposing - inventing new uses for household items - can be more productive and certainly less expensive.  Some items can gain whole new lives as garden tools, and developing new uses for dependable old standbys can open a whole new world of possibilities.  All of these "new" tools will ease your gardening chores for many years, and you'll feel the pride and delight that comes with creating a new use for what might have been discarded.
       Here are 50 ways to get started.
 
FROM THE KITCHEN
 
1.            Save boxes just wide enough for seed packets to stand up.  Sort packets by planting season, and put each group in its own box.   Within each season, arrange packets alphabetically, or group them into early-, middle-, and late-season use.  When you're ready to sow, the packets for that time will be together already, with no searching.
2.            Use empty citrus rinds for the simplest seed-starting container of all.  Just fill the rind with potting soil, place one or two seeds in each, support it upright, and water to moisten the mix.  Thin later to one seedling per rind.  Transplant the whole unit into the garden.  The rind will decay into the soil, and the roots will benefit by the fertilizer close at hand.
3.            Use pint-size plastic mesh berry or cherry tomato baskets to start seeds indoors.   Cucurbits--cucumbers, melons, squash--and other plants that don't like to be transplanted do especially well with this method.  Line the baskets with one or two thicknesses of newspaper or paper towel, fill them with potting mix, and sow four or five seeds in each.  Thin seedlings later to one or two plants; three if they'll be planted in hills, as for melons.  The baskets allow plenty of room for root growth.  When the weather outside is warm and settled, plant the baskets, making sure the soil is mounded over the plastic and the newspaper.  There'll be no transplant shock, and the roots will grow through the paper and mesh into surrounding fertilized soil.  At the end of the season, lift, clean, and store the baskets for future use.
4.            Keep vegetable and flower row/bed labels bunched together with rubber bands or twist-ties from sandwich bags.  Make a grouping for each individual vegetable, with all the varieties in that one bunch.  This makes searching easier the next time you plant, whether in several weeks or next year. 
5.            An old fork or spoon will separate and lift seedlings gently from flats, and the handle--or a pencil or ice cream stick--can be used to ease transplants from individual growing pockets in segmented flats--all without damaging the tender roots. 
6.            An old paring or putty knife can be used to cut transplants out of a flat or as a harvesting aid.
7.            Slit open plastic dry cleaning bags for lightweight sheeting over newly seeded flats or beds.  Outdoors, anchor the sides to keep it from blowing away.  Remove the sheeting when the seedlings are an inch tall.
8.            Cheesecloth staked over a seed bed or a transplanted seedling helps in several ways.  It protects the bed from hard rains and overhead irrigation.  When the sides are anchored down, it keeps snails and birds out.
9.            Slip half-gallon milk cartons with the tops and bottoms cut off over celery plants to blanch them as they grow. 
10.         Use plastic mesh baskets from cherry tomatoes or strawberries to protect newly-sprouted seedlings such as corn, cucumber, melons, and squash from birds.  By the time the seedlings are tall enough to reach through the tops of the baskets, they are no longer as tender and detectible as the birds prefer.
11.         Use plastic or metal cans (or those ever-useful plastic berry baskets) to support melons and squash as they mature.  These supports will keep the fruits above the soil surface so they are out of range of many soil-borne insects and diseases.
12.         Metal cans under melons concentrate the sun's warmth and transfer it to the maturing fruit, resulting in sweeter melons ripening earlier in the season. 
13.         Use refrigerator and oven racks covered with cheesecloth to make a "sandwich" rack for drying fruit or herbs. Place cheesecloth on one rack, and spread out the fruit on it.  Cover the fruit with another layer of cheesecloth, and place the second rack on top.  Flip the "sandwich" each time the fruit needs to be turned for even drying.  Bread and cake cooling racks also work well.
14.         Use inexpensive household rubber gloves during wet weather for all but the roughest garden chores.  They will not absorb moisture, and they'll insulate your fingers from the cold better than will cloth gloves, especially when they get wet.
15.         Save sets of jars for sorting and storing seeds you've collected.  Use the same type of jar for each type of seed for quick sorting.  Choose the jar size to match the quantity of seeds you have.  Place them together on a shelf for quick, at-a-glance recognition and easy retrieval. 
16.         Use a lightweight plastic garbage can to haul around the yard when weed¬ing or pruning. Periodically, empty its contents into central disposal cans, and continue collecting.  You won't strain yourself carting around a heavy container, and this saved energy can go into further gardening.
17.         Use common household baking soda to get rid of mildew in your home and garden.  Dissolve five tablespoons of the soda in a gallon of water.  Spray or wipe the solution on windowsills, porch, or other mildewed areas, and let it dry for 30 minutes.  Rinse the area, scrubbing with a plastic brush if necessary.  Spray it onto plant leaves weekly or after rain or overhead irrigation. 
18.         Use a coffee can with two plastic lids to protect the connection of two extension cords outdoors from the weather.  Remove the metal bottom from the can.  Slit each plastic lid from one edge to the center, and enlarge a center hole in each lid to be slightly smaller in diameter than the cord.  Slide the can over the end of one cord, connect the cords, center the connection in the can, and slip on the lids.  Keep the slits pointed downward to allow drainage, in case of condensation.
              
FROM THE GARAGE
 
19.         Create a "glove trap" by attaching a mousetrap to the wall near an entrance to the garden.  The gloves will be easily accessible and can dry quickly.
20.         Use a shallow, compartmented, plastic basket with a handle as a garden carryall for seed packets, pruners, trowel, fork, and other small items.  Before each day's initial trip into the garden, replenish the basket with seed packets appropriate for planting at that time.   As empty spots develop in the garden, plant a few seeds of carrots, lettuce, parsley, etc.
21.         Tie twine through the springs of two clothespins, and clamp the pins to a trellis on each side of a cucumber, pea, or other reluctant climbing vine.  The clothespins allow easy moving or readjustment of the tension on the twine without a lot of tying and untying knots hidden in the plant foliage. 
22.         Use a child's wagon for hauling moderate amounts of fertilizer or tools into the garden.  Its four-wheeled stability makes the effort easy when a wheelbarrow-sized amount is unnecessary.
23.         Place a rubber washer around a length of dowel at the correct planting depth to punch planting holes for seeds like corn and beans without bending.  The washer can be moved up or down the dowel to adjust for different seed depths. 
24.         Use a long section of pipe to direct seeds into premade holes without bending.  Just drop the seed in at the top.  When the seeds are in their holes, push a bit of soil over them with the end of the pipe. 
25.         Bury five-gallon and larger plant containers as irrigation funnels in between large plants such as tomatoes, or at the center of hills of beans, melons, or squash.  The containers prevent the hole from filling up with soil with successive watering.  The drainage holes at the bottom of the containers serve as funnels for water and fertilizer solutions to flow directly to plant root zones.  Place a shovelful of manure in the container for manure tea each time the plant is watered. 
26.         Place a few buckets around the garden as handy waste baskets.  Two can be left at each location--one for items destined for the compost pile, and the other for items to be discarded.  Inexpensive galvanized pails, plastic paint buckets, and five-gallon plant containers are ideal. 
27.         Use pliers to pull up tree seedlings without having them break off at ground level and grow back stronger than ever.  Grasp the stem at the soil line, carefully winding it around the pliers, and pull upward.  The whole root system will come out.  Watering deeply the day or two before will ease the pulling.
28.         Use masking tape for handy labels on containers.   Stick a strip of the tape onto a container of a concentrated solution such as liquid fertilizer, and write abbreviated instructions on it with indelible ink.  Refer to the simplified version on the tape each time you need it, rather than searching for and rereading the container's more lengthy and detailed directions.
29.         Paint tool handles and hose nozzle heads with a bright color of exterior enamel paint for easy retrieval in the garden, especially when they are forgotten or mislaid. 
30.         Use a garden hose to help plan a curved landscape area.  Its position can be easily changed until the desired shape is attained. 
              
PLASTIC GALLON MILK OR WATER JUGS:  THE KING OF RECYCLABLES
              
31.         Cut strips from the flat center portion of plastic jugs for use as plant labels.  Use pens with indelible ink to write on them.
32.         Use jug bottoms as saucers for pots, shallow starting trays, or cutworm guards.  For the guards, cut a slit from one side to the center, and remove an inch-wide hole at the center for the plant stem.  Slip the plastic into place, with the bowl directed downwards.
33.         With tops and bottoms removed, jugs become mini-greenhouses.  Pushed an inch or so into the soil, the containers form a barrier to cutworms, snails, slugs, and other crawlers.  Rest the snap-on caps lightly over the tops for some protection from nighttime chill.  Be sure to remove them during warm days, however, or the plants will steam.  When the plants have outgrown the containers, they will be sturdy enough to thrive without their protection. 
34.         The jugs can be used as watering or fertilizer funnels for smaller plants such as lettuce.  For slow percolation of water and nutrient solutions into the soil, punch holes in the lower halves of the jugs, and sink them into the soil between plants or seedlings.  For faster irrigation, invert the bottomless mini-greenhouses, and bury them between seedlings so the jug is about a foot deep and the bottom edge is just above the soil level.  Place a shovelful of manure in this container for manure tea each time water is added.  Roots will grow deeply in search of this nutrition and moisture.  During longer periods of hot weather, these deep roots will keep plants thriving--especially contrasted with shallow-rooted plants that are barely surviving.
35.         The jugs can protect tender plants from late frosts.  Fill four or five jugs with water, and place them around each plant so that the corners touch.  This wall around the plant will protect it from light frosts by radiating the heat it stored in the water during the day. 
              
LEFTOVER BITS AND PIECES
 
36.         Use two-foot-long sections of bamboo staking to keep plastic jug mini-greenhouses from blowing away.  In the jug, cut away a hole leading straight down into the handle.  Through this hole, push the stake into the soil, leaving six inches or so sticking out the top.  No amount of wind can dislodge the jug from the stake.
37.         Support stems of chrysanthemum plants growing closely in beds by using chicken wire.  Unroll the wire the length and width of the bed, and stake it one foot above the soil.  The stems will grow up through the holes and support themselves to their full height without toppling over.  Setting up this support is easier than staking each plant, selective cutting of blossoms is easier and clean-up is quick.
38.         Short lengths of hose and "Y" hose connections with individual on-off valves can simplify garden watering chores.  Attach a "Y" to an outside faucet for double duty there--one outlet for a hose and one for a bucket or another hose.  Further "Y" connections and short sections of hose ending in soaker hoses or sprinkler heads can easily provide all-at-once irrigation of a small or medium-sized garden.  Any variety of shapes can be accommodated, from very long and narrow to square.  Tailor the layout of the hoses to the vegetable and flower beds as needed, and end each with the appropriate sprinkler head or soaker hose.  Adjust the valve at each "Y" connection for water flow rates as needed.  With sufficient water pressure at the originating faucet, many small and perhaps awkwardly shaped areas can be watered all at one time.
39.         Use an outdoor grill or fireplace to sterilize soil, rather than using your indoor oven or fireplace.  This avoids filling the house with the unpleasant odor from the sterilizing.  After lighting the fire in the grill or fireplace, set an old roaster pan onto the rack, and fill it with a mixture of equal portions of garden soil and builder's sand.  Cover the mixture tightly and bake it for an hour, stirring it several times to keep the soil evenly heated.  After removing the pan from the fire and letting the mix cool thoroughly, stir in an equal portion of milled peat moss.  Store the mix in a closed container.
40.         Save a "Y" shaped crook from pruning to scrape mud from boots, forks, and other tools.  A broad wedge is best for shovels.
41.         Save used motor oil to coat the metal surfaces of tools for winter storage.  Fill a can with builder's sand, and add some old oil for easy maintenance of shovels, hoes, and forks after each use.  Be sure to choose a can with no drainage holes that is deep and wide enough to accommodate the whole shovel blade and fork tines. 
42.         Apply used motor oil to the underside of the mower housing before you mow the lawn each time.  The oil inhibits rust and helps prevent grass clippings from sticking, making cleanup easier.  Coat all the metal surfaces before storing the mower for the winter.
43.         Make a garden colander by replacing the bottom of a wooden box with half-inch hardware cloth or chicken wire.  Collect fresh-picked vegetables in the box, and rinse them off in the garden so that the soil remains there.  Only the final cleaning will be necessary indoors.
44.         Fasten chicken wire to a frame a foot above the soil as a horizontal trellis for vining crops.  Plant seeds in compost-enriched hills in the center, and mulch heavily under and around the racks.  As the vines develop, train them up through the wires onto the flat area.  They'll soon shade their roots and thus require less irrigation.  Suspended in the air, the vines and fruits are less susceptible to downy and powdery mildews, and to soil-borne insects and diseases.  Those insects that do appear are easy to spot and control.  The racks also help keep the vines and fruits above walking and weeding areas. 
45.         Save pantyhose to hang individual fruits and vegetables from trellises and to protect them from birds, earwigs, snails, and other munchers.  This works well for corn, cucumbers, grapes, melons, peaches, small pumpkins, and squash.  For trellis support, tie the pantyhose ends to the trellis, and support the fruit or vegetable in its own hammock.  For protection, tie knots at the top and bottom of the fruit or vegetable for a close fit with no entry openings.  The pantyhose dries off quickly, doesn't hold heat, yet stretches to allow further growth. 
46.         Make your wheelbarrow support its own load by adding wheels to the rear legs.  Anchor a bar to each leg with a "U" screw and bolts.  Anchor two small wheels to the ends of the bar with a bolt and washer on both the outside and inside of the wheel.  The smaller the wheels, the less the rear end of the wheelbarrow is raised.  This enables the wheelbarrow to be pushed rather than lifted and pushed, making heavy loads much easier to move with less strain.
              
MAKE YOUR GARDEN WORKING TIME MORE PLEASANT
              
47.         When planning several hours of work in the garden, take along a light¬weight chair, a clip-on umbrella, a hand towel, and a thermos with some liquid refreshment.  Enjoy a periodic rest and appraisal of your garden efforts.
48.         Pin a facecloth or hand towel to your waistband to wipe the sweat off your forehead and out of your eyes while working in the garden on a hot day.
49.         Leave backless, thick-soled rubber or wood shoes such as clogs that are somewhat worn outside the door to the garden for quick and easy garden access.  They'll keep feet well above soggy soil and won't require cleaning every time you take them off.  With only the addition of heavy socks or old padded house slippers (also recycled) during cool weather, the clogs will serve well year around.  In cold-winter areas or where pathways aren't mulched, heavier protection such as boots may be preferable. 
50.         Give your hands a moisturizing treatment as you garden.   Lavishly spread hand lotion or cream onto your hands, adding more under your fingernails, before you put on your gloves.  As you work, your hands will absorb the cream.  When you remove the gloves, your hands will have benefited from the cream rather than suffered from the moisture-removing soil.  Any soil on your hands will wash off easily because the cream or lotion formed a barrier.

HUELL HOWSER'S VISIT TO MY GARDEN

See Huell Howser's video of his visit to my garden when I demonstrated many of these repurposed tools -- Green Gardener -- under "Yvonne's Web Appearances" on my WebLinks page.

WANT MY ZOOM PRESENTATION?

I'll discuss these and many more tips and techniques and photos with your group, including the items highlighted in Huell's video.  Contact me to arrange -- GardeningInLA@gmail.com

SEE ALSO MY ZOOM PRESENTATION TO THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY GARDEN ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE -- under "Yvonne's Web Appearances" on my WebLinks page.​

     Whew! We managed to get through July without a recurrence of our 116-degree days from 2018.  Of course, we still have the rest of our hot season to come.
     Like memorable days throughout the year for each of us, we look forward with delight or dread to some of the good and bad things that’ve marked our past lives.  When I was younger and undergoing what felt like catastrophic happenings, I’d wished that I’d had some warning so I could emotionally prepare myself for what was to come.  As I’ve grown older, I’ve been thankful that I didn’t know of ahead of time of the stresses to come, so I didn’t have to suffer ahead of time as well.
     The gardening year is the same way – we never know how it will play out -- hot or cold, wet or dry, with great success or abject failure.  Of course, it always turns out to be a mixture of all possibilities.  So we figuratively plow on, exploring new techniques and plants as well as repeating our favorites. Now is a great time to start considering what needs improvement and what magic already works as we begin thinking about our cool-season garden.
     In the meantime, let’s move back out into the garden with some timely tasks and harvesting highlights.

Some Timely Tasks
      Lift melons off the soil surface to get them away from moist soil and crawling pests. Boards, cans, or plastic baskets from strawberries or cherry tomatoes serve well. Stop watering plants the week before they're ripe to allow the sweetness to concentrate and to minimize fruit-cracking problems.
    Zucchini are the blessing and the bane of gardeners and their neighbors.  They’re usually more productive than we expect, especially if we’ve planted more than one plant, and they keep coming.  I prefer yellow crookneck squash, which taste already buttered when merely steamed. 
      Continue to keep vine vegetables (especially beans, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes) picked, whether or not you will use the harvest that day. If many fruits are allowed to overmature on the plant, the plant “thinks” it’s done its reproductive job, and it stops producing more blossoms.
     If your vegetables and fruits won’t be eaten that day, or if you’ll refrigerate them for use later, harvest them as early in the day as possible.  Research at the University of California, Davis, found that the six hours before sunrise is the best time to harvest because the edibles have been thoroughly cooled overnight. As soon as the sun hits the fruits or vegetables, the pulp temperature begins to rise, and even shading them will not delay the temperature rise for long. Each five degrees lower temperature when the fruit is picked will extend shelf-life for another three days. Tomatoes, in particular, develop more chilling injury -- that telltale graininess and mushiness -- when they are cooled after being harvested when thoroughly warm because the cell structure breaks down.  This is why you shouldn't refrigerate tomatoes unless they've been cut open.
     If you have kept plants well-picked, but fruit set has stopped, suspect hot weather. Fruit set will begin again about ten to fourteen days after the temperature stays below 85 to 90 degrees.  This is why we want to get plants established as early in the spring as possible, so they’ve set a lot of fruit by the time it heats up now.  
     To keep veggies producing well, continue to fertilize and keep root zones thoroughly moistened. Plants appreciate this extra boost in nutrition to use immediately in setting more blossoms and maturing their fruits.
      But during our extra-hot weather now, be sure to water the plants well before applying fertilizer, to fully hydrate the full root systems so the fertilizer won't "burn" dry roots.
     To re-energize vegetable plants, prune off their leaves that have become ragged from age, disease, or insect attacks. Then water the plants well. Healthy new leaves and blossoms will hopefully appear again once the weather cools a bit, and fruit set will begin again. This technique is especially effective with beans, cucumbers, and squash.
     As vine crops reach the tops of their trellises, pinch off the lead vine; the side shoots will take over the major growth and food production.
     Toward the end of the month, pinch off the last blossoms of eggplants, peppers, melons, squashes, and tomatoes. Plant energy will then be concentrated in maturing fruit that's already set, instead of setting more fruit that won't ripen sufficiently before fall’s cooler weather (yes, it's coming!).

My Tomato Tally So Far:  305 fruits
237 Cherry-size -- Sungold, Chocolate Sprinkles,
        Flamme, Chocolate Cherry, Isis Candy, volunteer
 68  Large size -- Celebrity, Black Krim, Black Zebra,
        Chocolate Stripes, Cherokee Purple, Cherokee
        Green, Big Rainbow

For more garden task possibilities, see August.