July 2001

Edible

Prune out and destroy old fruiting canes of raspberries after harvest.

Lift onions when tops turn yellow. Let them dry for 2 days. Dry them indoors for a week. Remove the tops. Store onions with thin necks and use the thick-necked ones right away.

Plant more beans, beets, cucumbers and sweet corn before mid-month.

Pinch off the entire flower stalk from its point of attachment on basil. This will promote lateral branching and productivity while reducing the number of flowers that need pinching.

Watch for white butterflies around cabbage. They lay eggs and these hatch into cabbage worms. Control with BT (Bacillus thuriengensis kurstaki).

Give excess veggies to Plant a Row for the Hungry. Call 773-233-0476 for drop off locations.

Pick tomatoes when they start to turn pink or squirrels will have a free meal.

Ornamental

Divide and transplant iris late in the month.

Fertilize trees and shrubs by mid-month so new growth can harden off before winter.

Control weeds from going to seed; this will mean less weeding next year.

Prevent the buildup of salts in houseplant soil. Water with the water in the drain pan of your dehumidifier or set buckets outside during the next rainstorm or draw water for your plants the day before you plan to water. A day's evaporation should clear the water of most minerals.

Prune Taxus (yews) and junipers to shorten long growth and retain the plant's natural form.

Mow grass at three inch height as weather warms. Lawns mowed at higher height have deeper roots and less weeds.

Watch for adult Japanese beetles on deciduous trees, shrubs, roses, zinnias, marigolds and hollyhocks. Beetles are metallic green and 1/2" long. Do not use Japanese beetle traps because they attract more beetles which can result in higher levels of plant damage.