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CROPS and TIPS TO CONSIDER

Eggplants, cucumbers, leeks, tomatoes: they’re all very greedy vegetables that require more than the usual share of compost at planting time. And they’ll also likely need supplementary feeding later in the season.

LEAF LETTUCE 
If you've ever tried to re-create the iceberg lettuce experience in a home garden, you may have been disappointed. Getting lettuce to "head up" can be tricky, especially if hot weather catches up with you. But these days, it's easy to find all kinds of tasty lettuce alternatives--and leaf lettuce is one of the best. It's easy to grow, it grows fast, it tastes good, and you can harvest it as-needed by cutting a few leaves for a salad. If you're just starting your first lettuce endeavor, you might look for a variety called Black Seeded Simpson, which is reliable, compact, and delicious.

Mulch:  A mulch is simply a thin layer of material, organic or otherwise, spread over the soil surface. Organic mulches have a beneficial effect on both the soil and its plants, since they limit or even eliminate the growth of weeds. They also help maintain a constant level of humidity in the soil and therefore reduce watering needs.  For most types of plants, a 2 to 3 inch (5 to 7.5 cm) layer is quite sufficient. Don’t forget that it is best to spread organic mulches directly on the soil, not over a landscape fabric.  Don’t worry about letting mulch touch the base of trees and shrubs. However, it is best to leave an inch or so of free space around the base of perennials and annuals so the mulch won’t hinder their growth.

Your annuals and perennials aren’t as spectacular as they could be? First deadhead to eliminate any faded flowers, then spray their leaves with a solution of liquid seaweed fertilizer. Liquid seaweed is a complete fertilizer that supplies plants with potassium, nitrogen, a bit of phosphorus, many minor elements, amino acids, enzymes, and growth hormones. Your plants will never have been happier! 

Most perennials have a very short flowering season, so why not try one of the exceptions? The following two perennials will bloom non-stop for four months or more! The first is Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' (USDA zone 4, AgCan zone 3): it produces beautiful pale yellow daisylike flowers from the beginning of summer right through to the first frosts. And Scabiosa 'Pink Mist' (USDA zone 4, AgCan zone 3) is a dwarf plant with umbels of pink flowers from early summer right through to late fall.

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