Summer can be a challenging time for gardeners, especially when it comes to extreme heat and high humidity. This is ideal for tropical plants, but many plant pathogens, including fungi, also thrive in these conditions. Add to that the lack of rain or too much rain and you're done.
Gardening is a growing trend among homeowners these days. In particular, during and after the pandemic, we have seen the growth of home gardening in the United States, as homeowners continue to grow vegetables at home.
When problems arise, it can be frustrating and you may be tempted to accept defeat. Over and over again on social media, in emails and phone calls to the LSU Aggregore Center, we constantly hear about people not making progress in the garden.
Vegetable expert Kiki Fonteno wants readers to know that gardening can be successful even in the heat of summer.
"Success in gardening, like success in anything else in life, comes from persistence, hard work and the ability to see problems and not run away," he told me.
Below are some tips from Fonteno to solve some common problems with summer vegetables. These tips won't solve all your problems, but they're just the beginning.
Problem #1: “My plants are small. They barely grow and I have a small harvest.”
Are you pregnant? Vegetable plants are heavy eaters. According to Fontenot, nine times out of 10 the gardener has not applied fertilizer to the soil or has applied it in insufficient amounts. Start by applying 13-13-13 to the soil before planting seeds or seedlings.
Use an average amount of fertilizer, such as 5 to 6 pounds or 10 to 12 cups, 13-13-13 per 300 square feet. If your yard is only 100 square feet, you should use 2 pounds or 4 cups of 13-13-13. If you have something like a 4' x 8' bed, that's 32 square feet. You should put in about 1 pound (actually 0.62 pounds, but round up and make it easy), which would be 2 cups of 13-13-13 before planting.
Keep in mind that you will need to fertilize again when your summer plants begin to flower. Fonteno recommends applying 1 tablespoon of calcium nitrate (15% nitrogen) between every two plants a week before harvest. You can also use a basic water-soluble fertilizer. They are also usually 15% nitrogen, and you use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water when you water your plants the week before harvest. This additional release of nitrogen actually increases plant growth and yield.
Moving on to problem no. Problem #2: "This zucchini vine comes up every year and my vines just wither. It's on squash, zucchini, etc.
Once these moths find your garden, you can bet they will lay their eggs and the immature insects will burrow into the stems and cause trouble. Start by covering the pumpkin plants with insect netting. The net lets in light but keeps the grown moths away from the plants. Remove the netting as the flowers begin to open.
Inspect the plants three to four times a week. As soon as you see holes, prepare to mix the insecticide with the active ingredient bifenthrin. Mix according to the manufacturer's label. Spray the solution right where you see a small hole with "sawdust" coming out of it. This should kill the larvae.
Don't want to use insecticides? You can use a precision knife; generic brand X-Acto. Cut a 1-inch slit parallel to the vine above and below the small opening through which the sawdust emerges. Remove the larvae by hand and wrap a small rubber band around the vine just tight enough to hold it together. Do not "smother" the plant.
Summer gardens can be a worthy challenge. If you have problems in the garden, do not give up. Contact your local LSU AgCenter agent and visit www.LSUagCenter.com for all your horticulture needs.
