What to Avoid
First, avoid using cool weather vegetables. Usually
green and leafy vegetables such as kale, broccoli,
lettuce, and cilantro thrive in cooler environments or
during the fall and winter seasons. Utilize tools like the
USDA Hardiness Zones map to identify what zone you are in
and identify which vegetab les prefer those temperatures.
Direct sunlight is essential for most plants, but your garden’s
exposure to prolonged direct sunlight needs to be carefully
monitored. Extended periods of direct exposure during the hottest
months will dry out your garden at an accelerated rate. If soil
remains dry for extended durations of time, cracks can form in your
produce. More specifically, these cracks in the vegetables’ skins are
symptoms of repeated dehydration and rehydration of the soil, which
can easily happen during the summer months.
Wilting is another sign, though less serious, that something isn’t right in
your garden. Gardeners who can catch their plants wilting have time to
water and save them. (Also, keep in mind that leafy plants can wilt a little
during the day’s peak heat, in which case there is nothing to be done except
wait.) Wilting may be unavoidable, but don’t make the mistake of wetting
your plants leaves in hopes to relieve them. Water on plant leaves and
stems, compounded by the heat, invites fungus, mold, and bacteria to form.
Additionally, the water acts as a magnifying glass and intensifies the sun’s
effects. Contrary to popular belief, watering your garden isn’t about wholly
showering plants from top to bottom. To safely and more effectively hydrate
your plants and relive them from the heat, water at ground level.
“HIGH TEMPERATURES
coupled with long
periods of direct
sunlight can scorch
gardens, leaving them
withered and crispy.”
grow cycle
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