WSU/Master Gardeners-- July garden brims with life

What to do in the July garden ...

* Set your alarm and get up with the birds to avoid that middle of the day heat in July. It's a good time to walk around your yard and take stock of what is going on. Check how things are growing and don't forget to look up at your big trees for any problems, and up close at landscape plants for aphids.

* Mornings are also a good time to do your watering because it gives the plants time to dry off before night time temps set in. Mildew is caused by the humidity around plants and drying off will help.

* Raise the blade on your lawn mower so that you do not scalp the crowns during these hot times. Remember to water deep to promote long healthy roots. Daily short periods of water keep the roots close to the surface and can contribute to a buildup of thatch.

* Every evening take a leisurely stroll around the garden with a pair of sharp scissors in your hand and deadhead as you go. By cutting off all the spent blooms of both perennials and annuals, you will extend your bloom time.

* Get harvesting. It is time for those early radishes, lettuce and peas and the zucchini is not far behind. Decide the best way to share your wealth from your garden. It might be to put a shoebox full of extra produce at the curb with a FREE sign on it, or deliver to your favorite food bank. To use up all that zucchinis you have, stop by the WSU extension office and pick up the free zucchini handout for delicious ways to enjoy this versatile veggie. The office is at 104 N. First St. in Yakima.

* Snip some herbs for tonight's dinner and a few more to dry. After picking a "bouquet" of herbs, slip a rubber band around the stems and hang it in a dark area. Remember that cutting herbs will encourage them to keep producing for you.

Join Yakima County Master Gardeners at their demonstration garden at 10 a.m. July 18 for a free class on growing and using herbs. The garden is in the Ahtanum Youth Park. Parking is free.

* Use the last of the rhubarb in your favorite dessert, then let it rest until next spring.

* Do not cut off those beautiful ferns from your early harvest of asparagus. That top growth will take nutrients down to the crowns and give you a good harvest next spring.

* Keep weeding. Get those weeds when they are small and haven't had a chance to set seeds. Use mulch around your plants to help suppress them. An added benefit is that mulch holds in some moisture.

* Spend a Sunday at the Yakima Farmer's Market and enjoy all the beautiful produce, nice selections of plant material and art for your garden. Spend some money for the coming week's menu and by doing so you will be supporting local growers. Be sure to stop by the Master Gardener table for answers to all your gardening questions.

Q. What is mesclun and how do I grow it?

A. Mesclun is just a fancy name for mixed baby salad greens.

Mixes vary so you need to read the ingredients on the seed package.

Mild mixes might contain familiar kinds of lettuce with greens such as purslane and chervil. Other mixes might have a peppery bite and could include seeds of mustards, red and green chicories and endive. All of them are tasty and have good eye appeal for the plate -- and of course they are good for you, too.

Mesclun is a spring crop but can also be planted late in July for a fall harvest. Barely cover the seeds and keep them moist until they germinate. When the leaves are 4 to 6 inches tall, take scissors and snip them about an inch above the soil. Do not cut into the crowns of the plants. By using the cut-and-come-again method, you will get a second and third harvest.

* Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program is an organization of trained volunteers dedicated to horticulture and community service. Questions about gardening, landscaping or the program may be directed toward the Master Gardener Clinic by calling 509-574-1600 or visiting the WSU Extension office at 104 N. First St. in Yakima. New volunteers are welcome.

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