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Summer favorites like tomatoes and dahlias need nighttime temperatures above 60°F to thrive. Cooler conditions can stunt the plants’ growth, and tomatoes exposed to cooler weather can also be susceptible to cat-facing, a condition characterized by misshapen fruit and scarring around the blossom ends.
Wait for Warmer Weather
- Soil temperatures also need to rise a bit before we can get seeds for beans, squash, zinnias and other warm-season plants in the ground. They germinate best when the soil
temperature is above 60°F. - You can move houseplants outdoors for the summer when night temperatures are reliably in the 60s. Choose full- or partly shaded locations for houseplants, many of which are used to lower-light conditions. Be sure to acclimate them slowly to the outdoors to prevent leaf burn, discoloration and drop.
- Continue hardening off seedlings started indoors before you plant them outside. Over about a week or two, set them out in a partially shaded spot, protected from strong winds. Start with an hour for the first day, and then slowly increase the time they’re outside and their exposure to sun and wind each day until they are out for 24 hours. Then they’re ready to go into the garden.
- Consider joining us for two classes to get you growing this month:
- June 7: Planting for Success: Join Orleans County Master Gardener Jena Buckwell for a step-by-step guide to getting your plants off to the right start this season and many more to come. Part of our Master Your Garden education series, this class begins at 10 a.m. at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 12690 State Route 31, Albion. Suggested donation: $5. To register, call (585) 798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).
- June 21: Flower Gardening: Discover the art and science of creating a vibrant, thriving flower garden that reflects your unique aesthetic and nurtures local ecosystems. In this class, you will learn essential techniques for selecting, placing, planting and maintaining a diverse array of flower plants whose beautiful blooms will delight the senses through the seasons. The class is part of our Seeds to Splendor education series. Stay after to explore the Orleans Community Seed Share, a seed library featuring a diverse selection of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. We’ll have a table at the Intro to Modern Homesteading Event, which starts immediately after the class and will showcase various homesteading skills. The class begins at 10 a.m. in the Education Center at the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension offices, 12690 Route 31, Albion. Suggested donation: $5. To register, call 585-798-4265 or email klo54 [at] cornell.edu (klo54[at]cornell[dot]edu).
- Remember to check out the Orleans Community Seed Share, a new seed library based at the Orleans County CCE offices in Albion.
More in the Garden
- Remove the spent blooms on any spring-blooming bulbs, lilacs and other spring-flowering shrubs. Also deadhead any annuals such as petunias that you may have in beds or containers.
- Dig and divide early-blooming perennials after flowering, and move any self-sown annuals and perennials to desired spots.
- Continue to prune dead, diseased, weak or crossing branches in trees and shrubs. This is also a good time to prune evergreens. For more details on when and how to prune, check out this illustrated guide to pruning.
- Although it’s been pretty wet, drier days are coming. Remember to water your plants deeply in the root zone, and keep an eye on containers especially. Try to water in the mornings and avoid wetting leaves to prevent disease and other issues.
- Before your plants get too big, consider setting up soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems, as well as timers to ensure regular watering. Also check existing hoses for any leaks, and consider installing a rain barrel to help reduce your municipal water consumption.
- If you haven’t yet, be sure to mulch your beds. Mulch can help control weeds, conserve moisture and reduce soil erosion, among other things. Learn more about the different types of mulch and decide which is right for your garden.
- Stay on top of the weeds. They are vigorous, no matter the weather. Check out this handy weed ID tool to identify what’s coming up in your yard.
- Get ahead of hungry critters in your garden. In addition to planting resistant varieties, consider constructing fences or other barriers to protect your plants and trees.
Lawn Care
- Consider mowing less often throughout the summer. Mown grass thrives when only about one-third of its height is cut at a time. Start mowing when grass reaches about 5 inches in
height. Then cut it to about 3-3.5 inches to ensure a healthy lawn. - If you have bare spots in your lawn, consider overseeding with a fast-growing grass suited to the site's conditions.
Enjoy Your Garden!
- As your annual and perennial flowers and shrubs continue to bloom, turn them into beautiful bouquets to keep or share.
- Harvest and savor cool-weather crops like radishes, peas, lettuce and scallions.
- Keep an eye out for fireflies and their light show to begin later in June. Their larvae are voracious consumers of many garden pests and definitely worth having around.
- Watch for the hummingbirds to zip through your yard, too. They are important pollinators, especially for native plants. Set up a hummingbird feeder to help bring them in.