Daytime temperatures continue to hover near 90, dropping to the mid 60s at night. Gardens yield late- summer season veggies, and perhaps look a bit bedraggled. Have you gotten your fall planting plans ready? Gotten the seeds or located seedlings for the new season? Cool season crops such as lettuce, carrots, broccoli, kale and other leafy greens are perfect for your garden, but they require cooler soil temperatures for seeds to germinate or seedlings to thrive. For instance, lettuce germinates best when this temperature is 75 degrees. Now, however, those nighttime lows are cooling the soil, making it time for seeding or planting. First, clean your plot thoroughly of old plant debris, then spread some compost or organic soil amendment and get that lettuce underway! Happy planting.
– Carol Hassell