- Soil Prep for success. Get on top of those young weeds before they establish themselves and lay your compost on thick. Remember, no need to “incorporate” – just apply it to the surface of the soil and let the worms do the work. It’s also not a bad time to mulch – we see a lot of people holding off until their direct-sown crops are germinated so they can go in and “mulch around” their crops. Ben prefers to mulch first, and move back the mulch to expose soil where he’s direct sowing or planting.
- Speaking of direct sowing… peas, radishes, carrots, onions (sets and multipliers) leeks, beets, broccoli, potatoes, kale, leaf lettuce and spinach. Don’t worry about going too dense – you can always thin later.
- Establish perennial crops like fruit trees, berries, rhubarb, and asparagus. Like planting any tree, getting these in now will allow them to establish their roots before the heat of the summer brings drought stress.
o Plant an apple tree like any other tree -, but make sure you have full sun and pH-neutral, loamy soil. Dig a hole twice as big as the roots, and make sure the graft union (where the root stock was grafted to the tree) is at least 2 inches above the soil. Site the tree where you will have decent airflow to minimize fungal issues on a wet year, and if you can get your hands on a plastic spiral to protect the trunk that will prevent issues with hungry rodents over the winter.
o Berries like similar soil conditions to apple trees, except for blueberries which prefer more acidic conditions. Northern Ontario, parts of BC and Atlantic Canada naturally have these soils, whereas much of the prairies, Southern Ontario and (other parts) of BC will require amendment.
o Has anybody ever bought a rhubarb plant? We see them at the garden centers which suggests people do – but we recommend splitting and sharing existing stock and now is the perfect time of year to do so.
o Asparagus is a favourite here – 1-year old Peter can hold it easily, munch on its stalk, and wave it like a conductor’s baton and poke Dad in the eye with it. Asparagus is happiest in full sun, slightly damp soils. Weed control is always an issue - after harvest period passes you must let the plant grow out to replenish its roots. A late summer asparagus plant looks much like a weed, which can be tricky in the first few years while the patch is filling out. Be diligent and selective about what you pull out. Raised beds can help, but you will have to be mindful of water as the asparagus likes to be damp and the raised beds dry out much more quickly. A 2cm layer of compost this time of year helps future performance.
- Harden off your transplants – and resist the urge to plant, even after a recent spell of warm sunny weather. Harden off by leaving your transplants out during the day and bringing them in at night when it looks like it will be much below 15C.
