One can only hope that July doesn’t get much hotter than these past few days have been. But, no complaints here since I would take this weather any day over some of the frigid cold temperatures we endured these past winters.

Just remember to stay plenty hydrated (water is best), and especially when outside, wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

What’s Available This Week

Please visit Hattie’s Garden this week between 3 and 6 on Thursday or Friday afternoon. You can also find us on Saturday at the Historic Lewes Farmers Market (HLFM), located on the grounds of the Lewes Historical Society, 110 Shipcarpenter Street in Lewes, from 8 to 12.

This week we will have available freshly harvested vegetables, fresh cut flowers and lovely herbs.

Produce

Our produce list continues to grow as the summer starts to kick in.

• Young Patty Pan Squash — This is so delicious.. We just can’t get enough of these.
• Yellow Papaya Squash — Appropriately named for its resemblance to tropical papaya, this tasty summer squash is excellent for stuffing, frying, steaming, or grilling.
• Hakurei Turnips — This Japanese turnip variety is sometimes called “salad turnip” because it is crisp, juicy, and delicious raw.
• Young Arugula — Triple-washed and kept cold for you in our coolers.
• Loose Leaf Lettuce — Cut at a young and tender stage of growth and includes a delightful variety of colors, shapes and textures. Triple-washed and kept cold in our coolers.
• Mesclun — Mix of young arugula and loose leaf. Triple-washed and kept cold in our coolers.
• Haricot Vert — In French, haricot means beans and vert means green. Compared to most American varieties, these are longer and thinner with a more tender and have a more complex flavor.
• Fresh cut Flat Italian Parsley — There is no other type of parsley to use when cooking.
• Fresh cut Basil — You can put the basil bunch in water on your kitchen counter and it will last for days, even weeks. You can pull leaves off the stems as you need them.
• Fresh cut “mojito” Mint — This mint is genuinely Cuban and NOT just for preparing refreshing mojitos. It has wonderful qualities for anything you might want to use mint for.

Plants

We are fortunate to be offering a good variety of heat-tolerant plants. This includes many of our herb plants, such as basil, and flowers, such as Cosmos, Gomphrena and Profusion Bedding Zinnias. In addition you can still plant your late tomatoes and peppers! And it seems the eggplants, chillies and pepper/capsicums grow well no matter how hot it gets.

Container Growing

Some of our customers don’t have the space or soil conditions to plant their vegetables, herbs and flowers into the ground. The good news is that just about anything that can be grown in the ground can also be grown in containers.

This includes tomatoes (see our tips on how to grow tomatoes in containers, and a list of Hattie’s tomatoes suitable for container growing), peppers & chillies, herbs, and eggplants (but be careful not to over-water).

When container growing in this heat, if possible, move containers off the pavement or heat-attracting surfaces when temperatures rise.

Placing containers in an area that receives full morning sunlight and dappled afternoon shade will cut down on the amount of moisture loss during the hottest part of the day.

Consider grouping containers together as another means of water conservation. The plants will shade each other, cutting down on water loss and heat stress.

When you stop by the garden, Hattie can give you specific recommendations on watering, soil, fertilizer and size of your pots for what you are considering growing.

Watering

Water needs are quite different for container-grown plants. Potted plants tend to dry out more quickly than their in-ground counterparts. You should check potted plants daily in warm, dry conditions.

Usually when the first inch or so of soil is dry, it’s a good indication that watering is needed.

Generally in the summer, watering outdoor potted plants is necessary daily (and even twice a day) for most species, especially when temperatures reach over 85°F.

Always water potted plants with cool water at the base of their stems in the morning.

Slowly pour the water directly into the pot, filling it completely full until water runs out the hole in the bottom of your container. This method increases the amount of water reaching the soil instead of running off the plant’s leaves, as well as allowing sufficient time for the plant to hydrate in the cool morning hours in preparation for the heat of the day. It will also encourage roots to grow down toward the bottom of the pot, which is better for plants.

Fill the pot full of water two to three times to ensure the root ball is thoroughly moistened. Water the plant again when the top 1 to 2 inches become dry.

Happy Summer Days!