JUNE

In the Edible Garden

• Stop harvesting rhubarb and asparagus to allow foliage to develop and store food reserves for next year’s harvest.
• When crops like squash & cucumbers are planted in a circle or hill, place a stick upright in the middle of the circle & leave it there. Later on you’ll know where to water the main roots hidden under the vines. Do not be alarmed at June drop of tree fruits. This is a natural thinning process. Thin fruit to 6-8 inches apart on a branch.
• Crawling ants on your vegetables may be a sign of aphids. Some ants protect aphids, moving them from plant to plant or even taking them underground into the anthill for overnight safety. The ants do this to ensure a supply of honeydew, a sugary substance that aphids secrete and ants feed on.

In the Ornamental Garden

• Prune shoot tips of chrysanthemums and coleus to promote bushier growth.
• Remove leaves of spring flowering bulbs after they have yellowed and withered.Plant gourds as a summer gardening project for kids. When the gourd is half grown, scratch a child’s name into the skin. The gourd forms a scab over the scratches and as the gourd grows the name grows bigger.
• Trap earwigs by using rolled up newspapers moistened with water. Insects will hide in the newspaper during the day

In the Interior Garden

• According to studies by NASA, plants can function as air purification systems. Spider plants are highly efficient in absorbing toxic substances, but 8 to 15 mature spider plants would be required in an average home. Chinese evergreens, golden pothos and peace lily also lower pollution.
• Set houseplants in clay pots directly in the ground when placing them outdoors for the summer. Place them so the soil is 1-2 inches below the pot rim, which will allow moisture to go through the porous clay.