What to do this week

Last chance to plant! Garden stores are running low on transplants, and seeds should go into the ground asap.

It is still ok to plant the following:

beans (seeds or plants)

squash and melons (seeds or plants)

corn (seeds or plants)

chard (seeds or plants)

basil (plants)

June is the time to harvest garlic!

First, garlic scapes can be harvested when they emerge. These are the flower stalks that grow out of the center of the plant and start to form loops. You want to cut the scapes off once they have made a loop, and before they start to straighten back out. Once the scapes start to straighten, they become tough. Scapes can be used to make a garlic pesto, or added to stir fries.

After the scapes have been harvested, it will be a few weeks before the garlic bulbs are ready to harvest. The lower leaves on the garlic will start to dry out and turn brown. Once about 2/3 of the leaves are brown with green leaves only at the top, the garlic is ready to harvest. This could occur in June in warmer locations, or might take a bit longer in colder areas.

Use a garden fork or trowel to loosen the soil around the garlic when you are ready to harvest. Carefully dig out the garlic bulbs. The bulbs will need to be cured for storage - brush off any dirt, then put the garlic, still with stems, in a dark area for three or four weeks. Make sure the garlic has good ventilation. The bulbs can be hung or laid out on a screen. After curing the stems can be cut down.

Deer are year-round garden pests. If your plant suddenly disappears or sustains severe damage, deer are one of the likely culprits.

Some of their favorite vegetable plants are:

• sweet potato vines

• sunflowers

• peas

• beans

• broccoli

• cauliflower

• greens

• cabbage 

• beets

• carrots

However, deer will eat almost anything when they are hungry enough.

The best way to protect plants from deer is fencing or other barriers. In order to completely stop deer, you need a very tall fence - as high as 16 feet. One option is to use a homemade fence from T-posts strung with fishing line. The deer cannot see the fishing line and get confused about where the fence is, so they can have difficulty jumping over the fence. 

Another option for greens, root vegetables, or other shorter vegetables is to use insect netting or wire mesh fencing over hoops. Insect netting is inexpensive and also keeps out some insect pests such as cabbage white butterflies as well as squirrels and rabbits. Rebar and narrow pvc can be used to make quick and easy hoops that will last for years. The netting can be held in place with garden staples or pieces of lumber.

Deterrent sprays are available but tend not to be terribly effective.