Protective Measures
Against Mr. Sun
First and foremost,
keep the soil moist
and your plants’
leaves dry. Water
droplets on the
leaves magnify
the sun’s rays,
burning the plant.
Ground level garden
irrigation systems
disperse water at the
base of the plants and
right into the soil. This
ensures water will be where the
roots can reach and will take longer
to evaporate. As a general point of reference, soil should be
kept moist at least two inches deep, and should never look
hard and cracked.
Go Heavy on the Mulch
Second, add some mulch. Mulch (leaf or composted mulch,
but not wood chips) is a defensive coating on the top of
your soil that’s nutrient-rich, providing
multiple benefits. It insulates the
soil, defends against the sun’s
rays, and provides additional
nutrients for hungry plants.
Gardeners can be heavy-
handed with mulch, amply
covering gardens to keep soil
nutrient/moisture-rich.
Third, weed your garden.
When plants are searching for
every drop of precious water
possible, gardeners can reduce
the competition. Weeds are
unwelcome ‘mooches’ that pop up in
gardens, sucking up water and nutrients
that should be going to your garden
plants. Weed seeds are often airborne
or carried by other things, eventually
landing in your soil. Plucking them
from your garden as you see them pop
up helps save the nutrients and water
for the plants that matter most to you.
” As a general point of reference,
soil should be kept moist at least two
inches deep, and should never look
hard and cracked.”
Which Vegetables Will Thrive in Summertime?
During summer gardeners will want to grow warm-climate
ready plants. They are characterized by germinating in
50-90˚F temperatures, making them ideal for the year’s
hotter temperatures. Lima beans, hot peppers, watermelon,
cucumbers, and tomatoes are a few
examples of popular warm-
climate plants. Just because
they do well in the heat
doesn’t mean they should
have to endure extreme
temperatures, however.
Even these vegetables
need assistance if you
want them to thrive and
bear their best fruit.
By shading, mulching,
and watering vegetables
appropriately, gardeners
will have a much more
successful summer harvest.
Made in
the Shade
Finally, add
some shade.
Gardens
will appre-
ciate a nice,
midday
reprieve from
the sunlight.
By stringing up
some white shade-cloth
or screen material between a few
supports near the garden, it will
provide some shade during the day.
Facing it towards where the sun will
be after noon will repel the day’s most
intense rays.
Maximum Yield
75