With crops in full production it seems rather overwhelming or even silly to be thinking of fall planting in August. But the weather will be changing in many areas, particularly my zone 5 growing climate, and it is time to think of fall crops.

When planting fall crops you need to take extra care in planning your growing season for each crop and count back the time until the crop will be ready for harvest. Select the faster growing crops of each vegetable you plant.

You will also be planting cool weather crops such as peas, greens, cucumbers, cabbage and beets.

I have also found that using raised beds give you more control over temperature and an easier way to cover crops if necessary. When I build a raised bed I always make sure I include pipes or hooks on the interior of the frame to place plastic tube that can be bent in a u shape and placed in the pipe or hooks to create a quick and easy hot bed or frost protection.

The use of mulches in your raised beds will also keep the soil het in and cooler temperatures off the soil. You may even want to consider using black plastic around a crop that need a longer growing season or a crop that you are trying to extend the season. Perfect examples are tomatoes, peppers or gourds.

Gourds take a long growing season and in my short season I try to get another 3 weeks growing time to get the larger gourds for crafting uses or to make furniture from. Bushel gourds make the most unique end tables if you have a long enough season and take the gourd crop down to one gourd per vine for the bushel gourd variety.

With the use of raised beds, covered beds and short season crops you will be able to grow certain crops into October or November, depending on your climate.

Take a chance and experiment with a few of your favorite cool weather vegetables. You will be pleasantly surprised with your results. And one additional plus to late crops is insects are less of a problem.

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The vegetable garden is demanding time with daily harvesting of crops. Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, beans, eggplant, and peppers should be picked as soon as the fruits are ready. This not only captures the best flavor, but it also makes way for new fruits.

It’s also best to harvest crops in the morning or evening when the sun is not as bright and hot. You will find the vegetables will stay crisper in picked when the heat is not as intense.

Often at this time of year we get so busy in the garden that we neglect the flowerbeds and yard.

You can select one of these projects to do every day or every other day. It will only take a small amount of time and will be a pleasant break from the vegetable garden.

If you have noticed a gap in your perennial bed between spring and fall blooms, visit a local nursery to see what’s in bloom there. Ask for advice on what to plant for mid to late summer blooms. At this time of year you may get a great deal on perennial plants.

Sow these perennials outdoors for next spring: aquilegia, Phlox paniculata, digitalis, centaurea, and primrose. It’s also time to plant bulbs for next year.

Cut back the flower stalks of perennials that have finished blooming. There are two reasons for this. Removing old decaying stalks will help prevent insects and disease. Many perennials will produce a smaller flower or start new growth for the following season if they have more room to grow and more light.

Cut delphinium flower stalks to the ground, and a new, though smaller, flower stalk will develop. The flower will survive the coming cold days and even light frosts.

Rock-garden plants should be checked to see if they need thinning. Overcrowded plants will not stay healthy or attractive. And one of the reasons for a rock garden is to emphasis the rocks and if the plants are taking over the rocks get lost.

This week I have spent a lot of time working with the perennials, making a list for new plants and creating a rock garden in the front yard. And as I do this I am also mentally planning for next years vegetable garden. It’s never too early to plan!

Technorati Tags: flowers, gardening tips, perennials, rock gardens, vegetables

Some people prune tomato plants and some just let them grow wild. So why might you want to prune your tomato plants?

photo credit: Hammer51012

For larger tomatoes
If you prune the plants more growth will go into the tomato and not vine production.

When growing tomatoes vertical or in hanging baskets
Plants can become heavy so when growing them vertical on a trellis, tomato cage or in a hanging basket you may want to prune them to lighten the plant and weight.

Grandpa Joes Pruning tips
Grandpa Joe grew his tomatoes vertically and used this pruning method. he also applied a lot of compost and aged fertilizer, followed by a heavy layer of mulch.

Prune the young tomato plant to form a “Y” fork low to the ground. Train these two stalks up a trellis made of wood or string. Don’t prune off any more suckers. Keep the vine growing vigorously to shade the tomatoes and protect them from sunburn.

Yes tomatoes can suffer too much from direct sun after they have been pruned.

Pruning can help you produce a larger crop of tomatoes. But it takes a few year pruning to find a method that works for you area and garden climate.

Technorati Tags: gardening tips, pruning tomatoes, tomatoes, vegetables