Gardening by the Moon Weekend To-Do
An idea as old as agriculture, based both folklore and superstition but there are scientific ideas to back it up.
- Lunar Phase: Full Moon, Wednesday, July 29
- Saturday-Monday: Moon in the sign of Capricorn -
- Lantana is a plant that lives for years and blooms all summer and fall. Plus, it’s a magnet for hummingbirds and can handle the sun’s intense heat!
- For Cucumbers, Squash, and Eggplant, it is advisable to harvest them at the optimal stage of ripeness for the specific variety being cultivated. If you let them ripen for too long, they might not be edible.
Later in the Week
- As fruits like apples, peaches, and nectarines, mature, support the bending branches with 2x4s. Place the supports under the branches where they start to bend. Additionally, removing the ripening fruits at the end of the branches will reduce the weight and help prevent the limbs from breaking.
Other Things To-do
- Be vigilant for Budworms on Petunias, Geraniums, and Flowering Tobacco plants. A clear indication of a Budworm infestation is holes in the flower petals that progress until the plants cease flowering. These green worms blend seamlessly into the foliage but become visible upon close inspection. To control Budworms, administer a lethal dose of Bt or Spinosad to them.
- When removing spent rose flowers, ensure you cut them close to a leaf. Leaving too much stem tissue can cause the excess stem to die back naturally, resulting in black tips.