Doon gardening Society Monthly News Letter - JUNE
We are now in the month of June. This month has its own beauty and it is a great month for the gardener. The weather is now hot and it is the right time to put in seeds for the autumn and winter flowers and vegetables. This will give them enough time to grow and be prepared for the rains which normally commence here by end of June. Fruit trees are now laden with fruit. Take some time to enjoy your garden. Find the time to sit with a cup of tea, enjoy what you have done, and plan what you are about to do!
What to plant
Bulbs and Vines:
Plant your autumn blooming annuals. Summer bulbs such as dahlias, lilies, and gladiolas, and autumn blooming perennials such as asters and chrysanthemums cuttings. Some of the Bulbs which must go in are as under:
| FLOWERS | DECORATIVE | VINES |
| African Lily | Bougainvillea | |
| | Clematis | |
| Dahlia | | Clitoria |
| | Honeysuckle | |
| Gladiolus | | Morning Glory |
| Iris | | Passionflower |
| Tuberose | |
Flowering plants
Some flowering plants which can be sown during this month are as under:
| Name | |
| FULL SUN | SHADE |
| Balsam | Ageratum |
| Bleeding Heart | Begonia |
| Borwallia | |
| Coleus (Perennial) | |
| Cosmos | Impatiens |
| Daisy | |
| Geranium | Lobelia |
| Gaillardia (Perennial) | |
| Hibiscus | |
| Marigold French | Viola |
| Mimosa | |
| Nemophila | |
| Petunia | |
| | |
| Roses | |
| Tithonia | |
| Torenia | |
| Verbena | |
| Vince Rosea (Sadabhar) | |
| Zinnia | |
Shrubs
By now the shrubs should have fully leafed out and begun growing. If you have any plants or branches that have not leafed out prune them. How well you prune a young plant can help determine how well it grows in future years. Look for branches that cross over or that have weak crotch angles. Too many trunks or branches on top of each other will eventually lead to problems.
The later you wait, the hotter and drier it becomes and plants don’t grow as quickly. Recovery will be slower and if too slow, your flower bud set for next season will be reduced. Keep in mind that spring blooming shrubs set flower buds in late August to September and we need ample time for the plants to recover and grow. If you have not fertilised yet this season, do the one application now as well.
Vegetables
· Onions and Garlic bulbs should be dug out and cleaned.
· This is the time to plant Arbi, Ginger and Haldi. Seedlings of Chili, Brinjal and Capsicum should be transplanted.
- Sow seeds of Brinjal, Chili, Cauliflower, Cabbage, and Cucurbits like Lauki, Khira, Kerala, pumpkins, gourds and winter squash. Remove any newly sprouted weeds from garden area by hoeing; being careful not to damage roots of nearby vegetable plants.
- Sow bush beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons and other melons such as cantaloupe.
- Continue to sow bush beans in succession all month for an extended harvest.
- Transplant all new tomato seedlings this month. Mulch them well.
- Previously planted tomatoes should be about ready to stake this month. To keep them from toppling over, stake and tie plants to homemade supports or place commercial wire cages over the plants.
- Plant sweet potatoes this month. ‘Slips’ can be found at the local nursery.
- If asparagus and rhubarb have been cut this spring, now is the time to stop harvesting. This will allow the plants to rejuvenate by sending much needed nutrients to their root systems.
- Fertilise all new seedlings with a weak solution of compost tea. Mulch seedlings and keep well watered while they are putting on new growth.
- Fertilise heavy feeders this month. Corn is an especially heavy-feeder and should be fertilised and watered well this month.
- Harvest any baby vegetables desired for the dinner table and any early vegetables before they are too large to be of use.
- Soil temperatures have warmed up and these plants will get established quickly if you water them regularly. Make sure all plants in the garden are mulched - this reduces weeds, prevents soil from splashing onto the stems and fruit, and moderates soil temperature and moisture levels. Water is still the most vital ingredient for success, but do pay attention to fertiliser needs and monitor for diseases and insects.
Herb Garden
- Set out remaining herb transplants and mulch well.
- Continue to make succession plantings of short-lived herbs to extend harvest period.
- Shear off any cut-and-come-again type herbs by approximately 80%. Chives are a good example of this type of plant.
- Check moisture content of soil throughout the month.
- Fertilise plants with a weak compost tea solution around mid-month and again at the end of the month.
Fruit Garden
· If you are planning to plant Lichi, Mango, Guava, Chikoo, Sharifa and Citrus trees next month. Dig pits size 100 x 100 cm and sprinkler lindane on all sides and keep these exposed to the sunlight for a week. Burn dry leaves inside the pit to kill insects if any. In the last week of June fill the pit with two baskets full of well rotten cow dung manure, soil, 10 gm Carbofuran, 250 gm Neem Cake and 250gm Bone Meal and water well.
· In moderate climates, grapes should be setting on vines this month. To ensure a good crop, water regularly.
· Check fruit bearing trees for signs of pest infestations. This includes raking the mulch back and checking for any signs of rodent activity near tree trunks.
· Hang empty jam cans, rubber snakes, onion slices or other deterrents from tree branches to discourage birds from stripping young fruits.
· Pick off and destroy caterpillars and other pests from trees and bushes.
· Roots can dry out quickly in June so, check moisture content of soil throughout the month and keep soil evenly moist.
· Fertilise plants with a weak compost tea solution around mid-month and again at the end of the month.
Lawn Care
· Fertilise the lawn this month. Use a complete lawn fertiliser with a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
· If your lawn suddenly looks yellow or dies out in patches, the cause is probably due to an insect or disease problem such as Crane flies.
· If the weather becomes hot and dry raise the cutting height of the mower.
· It's not too late to reseed or over-seed the lawn. Be certain to keep newly seeded areas well watered.
· Apply moss killers before temperatures reach 30 degrees C.
· Control Dandelions and other lawn weeds.
House Plants
· House plants can soon be moved outside to a shady, protected spot.
· Continue to watch for insect or disease damage and take the necessary steps to control the problem.
· Warmer and drier weather means it will be necessary to water and mist your house plants more often.
· Feed your house plants with 1/2 the recommended strength of a good soluble Houseplant fertiliser.
Odds and ends
· Keep the weeds pulled, before they have a chance to flower and go to seed again. Otherwise, you will be fighting newly germinated weed seed for the next several years.
· Change the water in your bird bath regularly. Standing water may become a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.
· Continue to watch for insect or disease damage throughout the garden, and take the necessary steps to control the problem.
· Dig up and divide your spring blooming flowers. Now is a good time to dig up and divide tall bearded iris, daffodils, crocus and other spring blooming bulbs and perennials.
· Add compost and organic fertilizers to your established beds, then mulch. Do not mulch too deeply as it can compact in the heat and rain will run off the mulch instead of soaking into the soil.
Plant Protection
· Be on the lookout for plants that are infected with powdery mildew. For the few spots where it appears, pick off the leaves and destroy them. Wash your hands between plants so you do not spread the infectious fungus.
· If the leaves are yellowing and falling off the infected plants then treat with sulfur, potassium bicarbonate, chlorothalonil or thiophanate methyl fungicides to protect the new growth. Follow the directions on the package for the product that you choose. Check the plants for insects and squash bugs.
Fruit Garden
· If you are planning to plant Lichi, Mango, Guava, Chikoo, Sharifa and Citrus trees next month. Dig pits size 100 x 100 cm and sprinkler lindane on all sides and keep these exposed to the sunlight for a week. Burn dry leaves inside the pit to kill insects if any. In the last week of June fill the pit with two baskets full of well rotten cow dung manure, soil, 10 gm Carbofuran, 250 gm Neem Cake and 250gm Bone Meal and water well.
· In moderate climates, grapes should be setting on vines this month. To ensure a good crop, water regularly.
· Check fruit bearing trees for signs of pest infestations. This includes raking the mulch back and checking for any signs of rodent activity near tree trunks.
· Hang empty jam cans, rubber snakes, onion slices or other deterrents from tree branches to discourage birds from stripping young fruits.
· Pick off and destroy caterpillars and other pests from trees and bushes.
· Roots can dry out quickly in June so, check moisture content of soil throughout the month and keep soil evenly moist.
· Fertilise plants with a weak compost tea solution around mid-month and again at the end of the month.
Regards and happy gardening
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