If you live in Central Virginia and like rainfall , you would have loved the month of June ! Now we gardeners lie with rainfall but too much of a good thing can cause problems . During the month of June we receive more than twice the amount of rainfall as normal .
Wet weather and plants are unremarkably a friction match in heaven . However , too much of a beneficial thing can be bad for our vegetable garden , especially if the grunge becomes waterlogged and stays that way , as poorly - drained clay grease tends to do . All that water can disregard off the aviation supply to the plants ’ roots and to the microoranganisms that experience in the soil . It can result to root rot . In accession to root job triggered by inordinate rain , wet weather can cause disease via bacterial and fungal pathogen fostered by recollective term wet on foliage and root word systems .
There are two tomato plant diseases that are expected to do very well this summer because of the abundance of rainfall we had in June : earlyblightandseptoria foliage spot .
Early blightis because of the fungusAlternaria solani , and it is common in Virginia . It occurs to some extent every year wherever tomato plant are maturate . Do n’t be blur by the name “ early on ” as the disease may happen at any time during the growing season . former blight causes atypical , dark-brown folio spots ( lesions ) that range in size of it up to ½ in in diam .
The most important diagnostic indicatorof Early Blight is the formation of obscure , concentric rings within the lesion , giving the blot a target - like or strapper ’s eye show , and often causing the leaf to turn yellow , dry up , and fall off . The lesions ab initio appear on the low , older leaves near the base of the works and can progress rapidly up from the lower foliage to new growth during besotted weather .
Septoria Leaf Spotis cause by the fungus , Septoria lycopersici , characterized by several little , gray , round leaf spot with dark borders . A few opprobrious , pinhead back breaker may be seen within the spots .
As with Early Blight , the spore outlast in residues from diseased flora . Septoria leafage spot can occur anytime during the produce season . Septoria foliage spot disease first develops on the older leave nearest the ground and continues up on newfangled folio as the grow season progresses . Heavily - infected leave may blacken and wilt , giving the plant life the coming into court of a wilt disease . The fruit are seldom infected ; however , the leaf personnel casualty cut back yield takings and quality , and the exposed fruit are more susceptible .
For more information on former Blight , Septoria leaf spot and other tomato plant disease ascertain out our Garden Shed articleTomato Diseases .
Here is our list of July vegetable gardening tips and tasks :
July in the vegetable garden is primarily a calendar month of maintenance : watering , applying extra mulch , weed , and harvesting . The ambitious gardener may take on additional tasks , such as serial planting of select vegetable , and provision and preparing for the planting of fall crops .
July is a proficient calendar month for fulfil in empty infinite go away from those early - spent leap crop such as lettuce , English peas , potatoes , and radishes . July planting may let in bean and squash and a host of other vegetables . Take a look at the ready to hand - dandy chart below , which was developed using theVirginia Cooperative Extension Publication 426 - 331“Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates . ”
Not certain of what diversity or cultivar of vegetables to plant ? A comprehensive list of recommended vegetable for Virginia can be found in the Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication,“Vegetables Recommended for Virginia ” , now useable from the Fluvanna County Extension Office .
weed
It ’s of import to control weeds around vegetables because weeds will out - vie veggie industrial plant for nutrients , water , and sun . The adept method to control weeds is by mechanical origin , meaning good older - fashioned weed - draw or the utilisation of a hoe . For small weeds , the “ hoop ” or “ stirrup ” hoeis highly recommended because it allow for shallow cultivation . Another plus for the hoop hoe : it does n’t bring weed seeds to the surface of the soil ! Many weed seed require sun to germinate , so recondite cultivation or utilize a cultivator often brings seeds to the surface of the soil , facilitate seed germination for a new crop of undesirable sens .
More Tips and Tasks for July :
Continue to monitor pee wet level around plant life . The prescript of thumb is that plants need one inch of water per week to maintain productiveness . Mulching reduces the need for frequent lachrymation and improves yield . Early morning is the best time to water . Evening lachrymation is less suitable because leaves that stay wet through the night are more susceptible to fungous diseases .
Thanks for block off byThe Garden Shed . We hope to see you again next month !
Sources :
“ Vegetable Planting Guide and Recommended Planting Dates , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication No . 426 - 331,pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 331
“ Weeds in the Home Garden , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication No . 426 - 364,pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 364
“ Basil Problem , ” NC Cooperative Extension , https://growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu / growingsmallfarms - fusariumbasil/
