July Garden Checklist
June is the start of hot weather here in the USA and in Illinois. You can expect rapid growth, heavy blooms and heat stress in your garden. This month we will outline those essential garden tasks and simple maintenance activities to keep our gardens healthy and productive. Here is a concise outline of June/July gardening tasks.
🌱 Planting Tasks
Sow warm-season crops: Beans, corn, cucumbers, squash, melons.
Transplant seedlings: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil.
Succession sowing: Lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets every 2–3 weeks.
Herbs: Direct sow dill, cilantro, and chervil.
🌿 Maintenance Tasks
Weeding: Stay on top of weeds before they go to seed.
Mulching: Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Watering: Deep water early in the morning; adjust for heatwaves.
Staking and support: Tie up tomatoes, beans, and tall plants.
Pinching and pruning: Remove tomato suckers and dead leaves.
Pest & Disease Management
Inspect plants regularly: Look for aphids, beetles, caterpillars.
Use row covers or netting: Protect crops from pests.
Apply organic treatments: Neem oil, insecticidal soap if needed.
Remove diseased leaves: Prevent spread of fungal infections.
Harvesting
Pick early crops: Lettuce, spinach, radishes, peas.
Harvest herbs: Snip regularly to encourage growth.
Check daily: Zucchini and cucumbers grow fast!
Planning & Notes
Keep a garden journal: Track what you planted and when.
Note successes and failures: Helps with next year’s planning.
Plan for fall crops: Start thinking about brassicas and root veggies.
Check out my new gardening resource available on Amazon, a link has been provided.
