Time to Plant Summer Vegetables

Most vegetable seeds except lima beans can safely be planted as soon as soil is dry enough to work easily. Transplants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant may also be placed outdoors now. Although a light frost may still be possible in some area, most people prefer to take the chance in hopes of gaining some earliness. Part of the success of a garden comes from proper location. Ideally, the garden should be near the house so that spare time can be used in working it. It will also make harvesting fresh vegetables for meals convenient.

Trees too close to the garden shade crops and absorb needed moisture and food. To avoid this, place the garden at least 20 to 30 feet away from trees or large shrubs. If the garden is very small grow crops that produce the most for the space used. Some of the best types for the small garden are onions, beets, cabbage, spinach, green beans, and tomatoes. Stake tomatoes and grow vine crops such as cucumbers on a trellis or fence where space is limited.

Tomatoes are one of the most popular vegetables for the home garden. Hybrids such as Surprise, Supreme, Red Heart, and Pink Gourmet are wilt resistant and well adapted to certain local conditions. Tomatoes which have been grown in peat pots may be planted without disturbing the roots. Unlike many plants, tomatoes may be planted deeper than they were growing. If plants are too tall and leggy, put them at an angle in a trench to bury part of the stem. Roots soon form along the stem, and sturdy, short plants develop.

Peppers like Yolo Wonder, Tokyo Belle, and Bell Boy Hybrid are some good variety. Where gardening space is limited, they form attractive, compact plants and may be placed in an ornamental planting. Green beans are a favorite, easy-to-grow vegetable. Some varieties are ready to eat in only so to 60 days after planting. Either bush beans or pole beans are available. Topcrop, Contender, and Tendercro are excellent bush types. Popular types are Blue Lake and Kentucky Wonder.

Vine crops can be planted in hills or sown in rows. They include cucumbers, squash, and muskmelon. These plants need a lot of room. Hills should be about six feet apart. Some bush types of squash may be planted as close as three feet apart. Use three to five seeds per hill, and thin to one or two plants after true leaves appear. Sweet corn harvest can be spread by planting different varieties at the same time. Early types such as Pride of Canada which produce small plants may be spaced closer together than later varieties that produce large plants such as lochief or Stowell's Evergreen Hybrid.

The Summer Garden, by Paullina Simons.