By Debbie Post
Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean it’s too late to plant something now. Especially if you haven’t gotten your garden in yet this wet spring, or have had recent hail damage. Now is a great time to sow fast-growing crops that will reward you with a late-season harvest just as the weather begins to cool. When planting late-season, consider leafy greens to crisp roots, as radishes, lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, bush beans, carrots, beets, and turnips are all great seeds to sow and reap.
If your garden was spared the hail, and you decided to plant some herbs this year. Here are some tips for drying down those herbs. The herbs, basil, sage, cilantro, and rosemary, all have larger leaves and require minimal maintenance and preparation before the drying process. Your options include air drying, microwaving, dehydrating, or using a low setting oven. Be mindful. Your herbs will have different water contents, essential oil levels, and some are more prone to mold. When it’s time to store your dried herbs, it’s paramount to use airtight containers.
Along with storing your herbs correctly, safely store your garden veggies. Here are some ideas for storing produce for later enjoyment. Freezing is the easiest method, and most vegetables need to be blanched or steamed prior to freezing, which stops the enzyme action inside the vegetable and prevents loss of flavor, texture, and nutrients. Canning, pickling, and pressure cooking are also options to save your garden produce for another day. When in doubt, contact your county extension office for assistance.
Moving back outside, you don’t have to watch your plants die in the fall. If you enjoy taking cuttings from plants as a way to add more greenery to your home, keep these important tips in mind when propagating with water. Make sure the container is deep enough to allow the cutting to rest inside the glass. Submerge the majority of the cutting, removing any lower foliage or leaves to prevent decay or rot. Place the container in bright indirect light. Make sure to top off the water and change it often. Don’t wait too long to transplant – once the roots are one to two inches long, it’s ready to be planted in the soil.
Another outdoor activity can be the division of a variety of perennials and bulbs. It’s best to divide every 3-5 years or when they become overcrowded, and it’s optimal to do this in the spring or fall. Dig up the entire clump and then divide the crown and root ball into sections. Shake off excess dirt, remove dead growth, and cut back some of the live plant prior to replanting. This will help reduce any shock received from the division and transplanting process.