As we approach these hot summer months, there is plenty to do in the vegetable garden. Irrigation should be at the top of every gardener’s list of things to check, especially considering last summer’s drought. Maintaining even soil moisture is the key to success. Vegetables don’t particularly like dry, nor saturated soils. Drip irrigation helps maintain soil moisture while watering at the base of the roots and thus lessening disease pressure. If you haven’t already installed an irrigation system, consider doing so. Flooding row middles makes it hard to walk in the garden, aids in the spread of soilborne diseases, and if administered infrequently, can lead to split tomato skins. Overhead irrigation helps spread fungal spores from plant to plant. Drip irrigation is the ideal form to apply, as it is cost friendly and places water right at the roots of the plants. The two most important times plants need water are during the first two weeks after planting seeds and transplants and during bloom. Gardeners are planting and harvesting various crops throughout the summer, meaning irrigation is critical especially if we have another hot dry summer this year. If you can do only one thing to improve your summer garden, install irrigation before the fall.

There is much to do! See the notes below on gardening in June, July and August.

June

1. Mid-June, plant a summer crop of heat-set tomatoes. Planting heat-set tomatoes is VERY important. These cultivars have been bred to set fruit during high nighttime temperatures whereas, other cultivars will not. If managed correctly, heat-set tomatoes will produce fruit until a frost or freeze. Heat-set varieties include but are not limited to Tribute, Heatmaster, Summerset, Sun Sugar, Super Sweet 100, Phoenix, Florida 91, BHN 964 and Bella Rosa among others. Heat-set tomatoes can be planted again in late July for fall tomato production.
2. Collard greens, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, okra, southern peas, pumpkins (end of June for a Halloween harvest) and summer squash can all be direct seeded into the garden during June.
3. Start transplants of eggplants, peppers and sweet potato slips during June as well.

July

1. Transplant a fall crop of heat-set tomatoes and bell peppers. Direct seed okra, southern peas, cucumbers, squash, cantaloupe, pumpkins and watermelons throughout July. Late June through mid-July is the optimum time to plant pumpkins for a Halloween harvest.
2. Late July through early August is a good time to start thinking about your fall garden. Order broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, collard green, mustard green, kale, turnip, radish and other fall crop seeds. If you want an early September planting of these crops, start seed in seedling trays in early August. Start your seed outdoors in a sunny area that is protected from foot traffic. Greenhouse or cold frames are not needed to start a fall crop as the weather is so warm. Transplants need to be watered daily so make sure they are in a very visible location. Start seed five to six weeks prior to the desired transplant date for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage and cabbage. Greens such as kale, Swiss chard, mustard and collards can be started as transplants or directly sown into the garden.

August

1. Plant bush snap and bush lima beans throughout August.
2. Transplant broccoli and Brussels sprouts as early as mid-August in the garden. In north Louisiana start your lettuce seed, and plant beet and Irish potato seed in the garden.
3. In late August, south Louisiana gardeners can start their lettuce seed and plant beet and Irish potato seed into the garden. All gardeners, regardless of location, can plant transplants of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, cucumbers, squash, mustard greens and shallot sets in late August. Be cautious when doing this because insect pressure and heat are very high. Planting an early fall garden in late August requires time, care and scouting.
4. If you hate the heat, consider pulling all vegetables out of the garden and planting a cover crop of southern peas to add nitrogen to the soil and shade out the weeds. However, if you do this to maximize nitrogen, till the pea plants under as they bloom and before they set pods.