Birds vs. your bounty: Win the fruit fight!

Author

Lisa
May 23, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Good morning,

Is your plant looking a little wilted? It might be thirsty! Hot and dry weather can sneak up on us all, so it's important to monitor your soil moisture regularly. Deep watering helps your plants develop strong roots, keeping them happy and healthy all season long.

CHERRY PICKED - JUST FOR YOU

The sights and sounds of birds near your property can be delightful. But when they swoop in and eat all the fruit you’ve worked so hard to grow, the charm begins to wear thin. Protecting the precious fruit growing on your trees can be quite a hassle, but I’m here with tips!

NATURE’S CALLING

There are 11 days left until National Gardening Week

BRANCHING OUT

For a summer family activity, there’s not much that can beat picking fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden, making a base, and topping it off with freshly picked vegetables with a healthy dose of herbs to add a flavorful kick to pizzas. Take your culinary talents to new heights by planting a pizza garden to give your family the garden-to-pizza experience.

Whether it's intense heat, drought, floods, or storms, nature really can test us when it comes to gardening. If you are expecting any of these weather extremes in your area, you may want to plant some of these crops that can withstand the storm.

It’s no secret that cherry trees are some of the most beautiful trees out there. Before you plant one in your yard, you’ll need to decide - what’s more important to you? The fruit or the flowers?

DAILY DOSE OF DIRT

Challenge: The 3-Sister Experiment!

This week's challenge is all about exploring companion planting, a technique where you strategically place different plants close together for mutual benefit. We'll be focusing on the classic "Three Sisters" combination: corn, beans, and squash. This traditional technique, used by Iroquois communities for centuries, exemplifies the harmonious relationships possible between plants in a garden.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Prepare a small plot: A 4' x 4' space will make one hill for planting. Clear any weeds and amend the soil with compost if needed. Create a hill with a flat top.

2. Plant your corn: Sow 4-6 corn seeds in a circle formation in the flat top of your hill.

3. Plant your beans: Once your corn has sprouted a few inches, plant 3-4 bean seeds around the base of each corn stalk. Choose a climbing (pole) bean variety for best results.

4. Plant your squash: After the beans have germinated, sow 1-2 squash seeds in between the corn stalks. Choose a small leafed squash variety like zucchini or winter squash.

Observe and learn: Throughout the season, watch how these plants interact. The corn provides support for the climbing beans, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil to benefit all three plants, and the squash helps suppress weeds with its large leaves.

Bonus: Add a fourth element! Try planting herbs like dill or nasturtiums amongst the Three Sisters to attract pollinators and deter pests.

MORE TO GROW ON

Good mulch is effective for retaining soil moisture and suppressing weeds. Pine cone mulch can do these, plus, they enhance the aesthetic value of your garden.

Lemongrass can be used in recipes and teas. It’s an easy plant to grow in any size container. You don’t have to be an expert to do it. So, if you enjoy lemony flavors, this wonderful herb is what you need to add to your backyard garden.

NEVER STOP GROWING

Want even more gardening tips to transform your thumb from brown to green? Browse all past newsletters to unearth some hidden gems you might have missed the first time around. Completely free and available 24/7!

UNTIL NEXT BLOOM…

As always, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to read this newsletter! Question or comments - just reply.

Happy planting!