You’ve Made It!
August is among us now! We will begin see our vegetables ripen quicker, the weeds get meaner, and the pests more persistent. I believe in each gardener to stay with their beds to the end and contribute to the greater good.
Please contact me if you are feeling lost or overwhelmed as we can help aid these feelings.
This Week
Monday’s harvest: 222 lbs
Harvest time: Friday’s crew please harvest tomatoes(7, 9, 11), cucumbers(19), peppers(21,23). Please harvest all kale in the master gardener bed(28b) as well.
Please harvest and then clean out completely bed 13.
Next Week
Monday Priorities: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Harvest, if needed.
- Cultivate rows.
- Clean up fence from morning glories.
Friday Priorities: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Harvest available vegetables.
- Continue to burlap and mulch shed area.
Vegetable of the Week
Broccoli Growing Guide
| Soil Temp for Germ. | Days to Emergence | Seed Depth | Thin Plants To | Seed Spacing | Row Spacing | Min. Germ. | Seed Life | Seeds peer 1/4 gram | Fertilizer Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55-75°F | 5-17 | 1/4″ | 12-24″ | 4-6″ | 18-36″ | 80% | 3 years | ≈ 125-175 | High |
Brassica oleracea, Botrytis Group: Broccoli is a rich source of vitamins C, K, and B-complex, along with a treasure trove of minerals. Although one cup of milk has more calcium than a cup of broccoli, the human body absorbs the calcium from broccoli more effectively than from milk. From your body’s perspective, broccoli is said to be richer in calcium than milk!
Days to maturity: 60
Culture
- Broccoli performs best in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
- Broccoli is a cool-season crop that does not tolerate extreme heat; rough heads or leaves in the head are usually from heat stress
- Keep beds evenly moist and/or use shade cloth to maintain quality during heat waves
- Excess nitrogen or a boron deficiency can cause hollow stem
Direct Sowing
- Direct seed April through June
- At the bottom of the furrow band 1/2 cup fertilizer per 5 row feet
- Cover with loose soil or sifted compost
Transplanting
- Start broccoli indoors 4-6 weeks before your anticipated transplant date
- Side dress with 1/2 cup of TSC’s Complete fertilizer at transplant
- Start autumn/overwintering varieties May—July for transplanting June—August
- Start overwintering sprouting broccoli from mid-May—June, transplant out by the end of July—September
Harvest & Storage
- Harvest when heads are tight and dense
- Cut side-shoots regularly to encourage production
Cabbage worms, loopers, and root maggots: The first sign of cabbage worms will be off-white butterflies fluttering near the plants. They lay their yellowish-colored eggs on the undersides of leaves, which hatch into caterpillars that can cause severe root and head damage. To control infestations, spray plants with Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t)
Flea beetles: Flea beetles chew tiny pinholes in leaves. Early control is essential to minimize the damage. Spray infected plants with Pyrethrin. Using floating row covers such as Summer Insect Barrier can also provide control
Workday Task List
Weeding
- Perimeter of fence (inside and outside)
- Shed and Compost areas
- Perimeter of communal raised beds
- Pollinator beds outside fenced area
Cleaning and Organizing
- Communal materials
- Shed
- Tools
General Maintenance
- Pulling dead plants and crops
- Repairing Hoses and Irrigation lines
- Repair and maintain rain barrel
- Repairing fence
Seasonal or As needed
- Soil installation
- Woodchip/mulch installation
- Harvesting crops
- Irrigating pollinator beds