It is an amazing and busy time of the year for us here at our farm. We are ramping up our summer blooms and trying to enjoy the last bits of summer break with our kids!
Our tasks for August hold steady through September. It's what I call "cruise control time" and definitely a time to feast your eyes on your bounty!
Feed & Fertilize
Your plants will keep producing blooms as good as the nutrition you put in your soil. You can try granulated fertilizers such as Dr. Earth Bud and Bloom Buster. Be sure to rake in the instructed amount and water in gently. Liquid fertilizers such as AgroThrive Fruit and Flower are an easy "dilute and pour in" method for smaller areas.
We find foliar feeding to be most effective. We use a combination of Humboldt's Secret Flower Stacker and liquid kelp. Be sure to slowly ramp up concentrations over the growing season and avoid fertilizer burn.
Timing is key. Be sure to feed in the early morning when temperatures are around 68-72F, when stomas are open and ready for an uptake of feed.
2. Manage pests
Mother Nature tends to provide our garden with plenty of beneficial insects such as honeybees and ladybugs. However, the balance is not always perfect and we find plenty of Leaf Miners, Aphids, Cucumber Beetles and Thrips amongst our blooms this time of year. We have an artillery of companion plants such as basil and mint to help deter pests, but that is usually not enough to battle off the "not so nice bugs."
Head Farmette Secret:
To tackle pests, we will mix in Captain Jacks' Dead Bug Brew with our fertilizer and make a nice little cocktail for our plants.
3. Perennial planning
If you're up for some seed sowing, this is a great time to get perrenials sown. We pot them up in Fall and keep them sheltered to overwinter, planting them out in early Spring.
4. Finalize your plan for Fall corms & tubers (root stock)
This is a great time to secure your ranunculus, anemones, and peonies for Fall planting!
Italian Elegance and Japanese Butterfly ranunculus are worth their weight in gold! Anemones can often be temperamental and it's important to choose varieties that will thrive in your climate. Whether you are a home gardener or larger scale grower, Ednie Flower Bulb company has made it simple. Their anemone catalogue breaks down the different varieties and their suitable growing conditions and takes the guesswork out of the selection process. For Peonies, check out Charmarron Peony Nursery in San Jose for high quality rootstock that you can either pick up bareroot in late Fall or have shipped directly to you.
5. Keep harvesting your blooms!!!
As a general rule, we keep 25% of blooms on the plants for us to visually enjoy. We continue to harvest and keep our plants cut back so that they continue to produce.
Remember to enjoy your bounty! Set aside some time to create someting beautiful for your home or to share with a loved one.
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