The harvest of Piedmont blueberries is currently underway as we approach the end of June. Picking a gallon of blueberries takes longer compared to picking strawberries, but the unique taste of blueberries in pies or cobblers makes it all worthwhile. Patience is key when picking blueberries, and while it may not be ideal to take children and grandchildren to the blueberry field due to their lack of patience, it’s a rewarding experience when you can whip up delicious blueberry muffins.
Picking blueberries in the early morning makes the job a little easier, as it’s better to avoid the scorching sun. Consider the fact that if someone else picks the berries for you, you’ll end up paying double the price. This serves as an incentive to pick your own blueberries, making it well worth the effort. Keep in mind that it’s still early in the season, so try to gather as many blueberries as you can now and return later for more. Try to make the process more enjoyable than it feels like work.
When it comes to processing blueberries for freezing, it’s a relatively easy task. While picking blueberries may be more challenging than picking strawberries, freezing them is much simpler. The best part is that frozen blueberries in winter maintain their taste and appearance as if they were freshly picked. To freeze blueberries, start by running two sinks of cold water. Pour only a quart of blueberries at a time into the first sink, remove any stems and unripe berries, and transfer the blueberries to the second sink of water. Inspect the berries, one quart at a time, and spread them on a dry towel. Allow them to dry for several minutes. Then, gently place the blueberries in plastic quart containers, making sure not to pack them tightly or let any water enter the containers. Repeat this process with each quart and immediately place the containers in the freezer. Remember to write the date of processing on the container lids.
Preparing a blueberry coffee cake is a delightful and straightforward dessert for summertime. To make this cake, gather the following ingredients: 1/2 cup of Crisco shortening, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 2 eggs, 2 cups of plain flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, 1/2 cup of milk, and 2 cups of fresh blueberries. Begin by creaming the Crisco shortening and sugar together, then add the eggs and beat until the mixture becomes fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Once the batter is well mixed, gently fold in the blueberries. Pour the batter into a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan or dish that has been coated with Pam baking spray or Bakers Joy. Bake the cake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. For the topping, combine 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1/2 stick of margarine, and 1 cup of crushed blueberries. Mix the ingredients well and spread the mixture over the baked cake. Cut the cake into squares and serve.
Consider investing in a durable and practical water wand, which is a great gardening tool for the hot and potentially dry days of summer. A high-quality wand with adjustable settings typically costs around $10 to $12. These settings allow you to choose between a shower, stream, or mist, enabling precise watering without wasting water in between rows. This tool is particularly useful when sowing seeds, as you can set it to “stream” and water the furrows directly, giving the seeds a good start.
Ensure proper watering of hanging baskets, especially under the summer sun. The intense heat can quickly warm up the potting medium in the baskets. To cool them down, water the baskets thoroughly each evening until water drains out of the bottom hole. Remember to water all annuals in pots or containers daily during the summer months.
Attract colorful butterflies to your zinnia bed by keeping it well-watered. Use a water wand to water the base of the zinnias rather than the foliage to prevent powdery mildew. If you notice any signs of powdery mildew on the zinnia leaves, create a mixture of water and two tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle. Spray this mist directly onto the foliage on a warm, sunny afternoon to help combat the mildew.
Keep your bird feeders filled daily, as the water in bird baths can warm up quickly on summer afternoons. Empty the warm water in the evening and refill the bird baths with cool, fresh water. This will provide a refreshing and convenient water source for the birds during the hot summer days.
Staying ahead of the weed battle is crucial as weeds never take a break. If left unattended, they can quickly overtake your garden. To stay ahead, make sure to pull up weeds such as Bermuda grass, morning glories, crabgrass, dandelions, and nutgrass, among others. Remove them from the roots and discard them in a bucket outside of the garden. By keeping your garden free from weeds, you’ll promote a healthier and more productive growing environment.
Ensure your hummingbird feeders are consistently filled, especially during this time when honeysuckles are fading and other flowers are beginning to bloom. Regularly check and refill the feeders every few days to provide a steady supply of nectar for the hummingbirds. It’s recommended to replace the nectar several times each week to maintain its freshness.
Consider using verbenas for long-lasting hanging baskets. These flowers are available in various colors such as red, white, purple, and pink. The contrast between their colorful flowers and dark green foliage creates an impressive display, especially as they cascade over the baskets. Use three or four plants per basket for optimal blooming, and remember to pinch off faded flowers to encourage more blooms.
Be on the lookout for Japanese beetles as the warm days of June approach and the Dog Days of summer draw near. Japanese beetles are notorious for eating roses, foliage, vegetable leaves, grape leaves, and flower leaves. When you spot the first beetle, set out traps and baits to lure them away from your garden. Plastic traps work well, and you can eliminate the beetles by dipping the trap in a bucket of boiling water. Empty the trapped beetles on the driveway or street, or pour them on the grass for birds to consume. If Japanese beetles infest your roses, foliage, or flowers, you can use liquid Sevin mixed with water in a spray bottle. Apply a mist of the solution on a warm, sunny day to combat the beetles.
Here are a couple of lighthearted anecdotes for you:
- In a humorous encounter, a general stopped a mess sergeant who was carrying a soup kettle out of the mess hall. The general asked for a taste and the sergeant obliged. The general, unimpressed, exclaimed, “Good grief! Do you call this soup?” The sergeant responded, “No, sir, I call it dishwater!”
- In another story, a six-year-old boy rushed into his mother’s bedroom at two in the morning, eager for her to tell him a story. The mother, half-asleep, told him to wait a little while as his father would be there soon to tell them both a story.
If you’re interested in extending your tomato harvest into early September, consider setting out a few late summer tomato plants. Some nurseries and garden shops may still have tomato plants available. Look for varieties like Ruters, Celebrity, and Better Boy. To give them a quick start, use Tomato-Tone organic tomato food. This will help support their growth and development for a fruitful harvest.
Taking the first steps in the blueberry harvest. As we approach the end of June, the Piedmont blueberry harvest for 2020 is underway. While it may take longer to pick a gallon of blueberries compared to strawberries, the incredible taste of blueberries in pies or cobblers makes it all worth it. Patience is key when picking blueberries, but the reward comes when you bake those delicious blueberry muffins! It’s advisable not to bring children and grandchildren to the blueberry field as they may lack the patience needed to pick the berries. To meet your quota for the blueberry harvest, you’ll have to muster up all your patience!
Picking blueberries early in the morning can make the job a bit easier. It’s best to pick berries when the sun isn’t scorching down on you. It’s important to remember that if someone else picks the blueberries for you, you’ll end up paying nearly double the price. This serves as an incentive to pick your own. Keep this in mind as you work towards reaching your harvesting goal. Also, keep in mind that it’s early in the season, so gather as many blueberries as you can today, and you can always return later for more. Try to make the picking process more enjoyable and fun rather than considering it strictly as work.
Processing blueberries for freezing is a relatively simple task. Although picking blueberries may be more challenging than picking strawberries, freezing them is much easier. The best thing about frozen blueberries is that they taste and look like freshly picked ones even in winter. To freeze blueberries, set up two sinks with cold water. Pour only a quart of blueberries at a time into the first sink. Remove any stems and unripe berries and transfer the blueberries to the second sink of water. Inspect the berries, one quart at a time, and spread them on a dry towel. Allow them to dry for several minutes. Gently place the blueberries in plastic quart containers, ensuring not to pack them tightly or allow any water into the containers. Repeat this process with one quart at a time and immediately place the containers in the freezer. Remember to write the date of processing on the lids of the containers.
Preparing a delightful blueberry coffee cake. Blueberry coffee cake is an unusual and delightful summertime dessert that is simple and easy to prepare. You will need the following ingredients: half a cup of Crisco shortening, one and a half cups of sugar, two eggs, two cups of plain flour, one-fourth teaspoon of salt, two and a half teaspoons of baking powder, half a cup of milk, and two cups of fresh blueberries. Start by creaming the Crisco shortening and sugar together, then add the eggs and beat until fluffy. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add this mixture to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Fold in the blueberries. Spread the mixture in a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan or dish that has been sprayed with Pam baking spray or Bakers Joy. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 45 minutes or until the cake passes the toothpick test. For the topping, mix half a cup of sugar, half a cup of flour, a teaspoon of vanilla, half a stick of margarine, and one cup of crushed blueberries. Mix well and spread this mixture over the cake. Cut into squares and serve.
Investing in a durable and practical water wand. As the hot and potentially dry days of summer approach, now is a great time to consider investing in a durable and practical water wand for your garden. A reliable wand with variable settings typically costs around $10 to $12. These settings can be adjusted from a shower
Watering hanging baskets to beat the summer heat. The intense summer sun can quickly heat up the potting medium in hanging baskets. To cool them down, it’s essential to water the baskets each evening until water runs out of the bottom holes. This practice should be followed for all annuals in pots or containers to keep them well hydrated.
Zinnia bed attracts colorful butterflies. The zinnia bed is now in full bloom, attracting a variety of beautiful butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and birds. On hot days, it’s important to give the zinnias a good drink of water. When watering them, use a water wand and direct the water at the base of the zinnias rather than the foliage. This helps prevent powdery mildew. If any powdery mildew appears on the foliage, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with water in a spray bottle and mist it directly onto the affected foliage on a warm, sunny afternoon.
Regularly filling bird feeders. As summer progresses, the water in bird baths can quickly become warm on hot afternoons. It’s a good practice to empty the heated water in the early evening and refill it with cool, fresh water. This provides a refreshing spot for the birds and makes their lives easier.
Staying ahead of the weed game. Weeds never take a break, and if left unattended, they can quickly overtake a garden. To stay ahead, make sure to pull up weeds such as Bermuda grass, morning glories, crab grass, dandelions, and nut grass by their roots. Place the pulled weeds in a bucket and dispose of them outside the garden. By diligently weeding, your garden plot will remain healthier and more productive.
Keeping hummingbird feeders filled. As honeysuckles start to fade and other flowers begin to bloom, it’s a great time to keep hummingbird feeders filled with fresh nectar. Remember to check the feeders every few days and replace the nectar several times a week to ensure a continuous supply for the hummingbirds.
Creating stunning hanging baskets with verbenas. Verbenas are a fantastic choice for long-lasting hanging baskets, offering a variety of colors such as red, white, purple, and pink. Their dark green foliage beautifully complements the vibrant flowers. Plant about three or four verbena plants in each basket to create an impressive cascading display. To encourage more blooms, pinch off the flowers once they finish blooming.
Dealing with Japanese beetles. With the warm days of June and the approaching Dog Days, Japanese beetles will soon make their appearance. These beetles can cause damage to roses, foliage, vegetable leaves, grape leaves, and flower leaves. To combat them, set out traps and baits when you spot the first beetle. Durable plastic traps work well as they draw beetles away from the garden. Dispose of the trapped beetles by dipping the trap in a bucket of boiling water, then empty them on the driveway or street, avoiding pouring them on grass to prevent damage. You can also attract birds by pouring the beetles on the grass for them to feed on. For roses, foliage, and flowers infested by beetles, use a mixture of liquid Sevin and water in a spray bottle. Apply a mist to the affected flowers and foliage on a warm, sunny day to control the beetles.Inviting pollinators to your squash and cucumber plants. To enhance the attraction of honeybees, bumblebees, and other pollinators to the blooms of your squash and cucumber plants, create a mixture of sugar and water. Fill a spray bottle with this mixture and gently mist the vines and foliage of the plants. This will entice the pollinators to visit the blooms, leading to successful pollination and a plentiful harvest.
Feeding and protecting tomato plants in warmer temperatures. As we transition into warmer temperatures in June, it’s important to provide adequate nutrition and protection for your tomato plants. Here are some tips:
- Preventing blossom-end rot: Blossom-end rot is a common issue in tomatoes. To prevent it, create a mixture of powdered lime and water. Pour this mixture around the base of your tomato plants using a sprinkle can. Alternatively, you can use Uigaro tomato food, which is calcium-enriched and helps prevent blossom-end rot. Sprinkle it on both sides of the tomato row and cover it with soil.
- Feeding tomato plants: Tomatoes respond well to regular feeding. One option is Tomato-Tone organic tomato food, which comes in four-pound zippered plastic bags. It’s a fine-textured, organic fertilizer that provides the necessary nutrients for tomato plants. Use it according to the instructions on the bag.
- Provide support and protection: As your tomato plants grow, it’s important to stake or cage them for support, especially during thunderstorms and windy conditions. This will prevent the plants from bending or breaking. Additionally, consider using mulch around the base of the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weed growth.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your tomato plants receive the necessary nutrients and protection they need to thrive in the warmer temperatures of June.