COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL July 13, 2016
11A
Plant fall crops while enjoying summer’s bounty
BY KIM POKORNY
OSU Extension Service
A
s we settle in at the
groaning table of sum-
mer’s harvest, savvy gardeners
pause long enough to consider
the coming season.
“Most folks are familiar with
and love summer vegetables,
but if you want to maximize
your food and nutrition, then
growing fall crops is a great
strategy,” said Weston Miller, a
horticulturist with Oregon State
University Extension Service.
The window of opportunity
for planting those crops is short
- as daylight decreases, it be-
comes harder and harder to hit it
right. So begin now to tuck seeds
or transplants into the soil.
“Yes, it is hot, and it might
seem counterintuitive to plant
now, but if you want to harvest
in fall, it’s got to be now,” Miller
said. “You just have to take steps
to mitigate the heat.”
Plant in morning or evening
and make sure to monitor the
soil closely so it doesn’t dry out.
Water daily, twice if it’s espe-
cially hot. Concentrate your ef-
forts on the top couple of inches
of soil where seeds are germi-
nating and the small root sys-
tems of new plants are getting
off to a start.
If the weather turns scorching
hot, you may have to resort to
shade cloth or Reemay, a very
lightweight fabric that allows
light and water through but
helps keep plants from burning.
Some crops don’t mind having
the cloth placed right on top;
more tender crops like lettuces
and other greens might appre-
ciate having it propped up on
the same type of wire or plastic
hoops used to make cloches or
cold frames. Or get creative and
design your own way of holding
up the cloth a few inches above
the plants.
As you get ready to plant, add
about ¼-inch of compost and
some organic fertilizer to the
soil. Both break down faster in
the heat of summer soil than in
cooler months and make nutri-
ents available quicker than usual,
Miller said. After planting, use a
water-soluble fertilizer like fi sh
emulsion on the transplants to
get them well established.
Whether to plant seeds or
transplants depends on the crop
and, to some extent, how you’re
going to use it. Plants that do
best directly seeded include
carrots, parsnips, beets, radish,
mustard and arugula. Many
crops like kale, chard and let-
tuce can be sown heavily for
“cut and come again” greens.
Cut the greens above the crown
of the plant when the leaves
reach 4-6 inches. You can get
two to three cuttings if you give
them plenty of water and some
fi sh emulsion after each cutting.
All other crops can and should
be transplanted for best success.
Look for high-quality plants
that aren’t root-bound, stunted
or off-color.
Once you get the new plants
in the ground, don’t dawdle
on weed control. Weed once
a week for four weeks to keep
weeds from competing for wa-
ter and nutrients as plants get
established.
Miller recommends allocat-
ing half of your garden space
for typical summer crops like
tomatoes, beans and cucumber
and the other half for cool sea-
son crops like kale, scallions,
carrots, beets and lettuce. “That
will give you the most from
your garden,” he said.
Weston Miller’s
guide for fall
planting
DIRECT SEED
July: carrots, beets, scal-
lions, radish, cutting greens
Early August: carrots, beets,
scallions, spinach
Late August: radish, cutting
greens, arugula
TRANS-
PLANTS
Mid-July through August:
kale, head lettuce, chard,
cabbage, caulifl ower, broc-
coli, kohlrabi, leeks, onion
JULY 18th at Bohemia Park
Th e Eugene Symphony brings its
beloved summer concert series to
Cottage Grove. Enjoy Classical, pop
and historical favorites including
works by Dvorak, Weber, Suppe,
Tchaikovsky and Sousa.
All this entertainment is the result of generous contributions from local businesses and individuals. Everyone can
play a role in bringing the Symphony to Cottage Grove. We have “Music in Bohemia Park” buttons for sale. All the
proceeds from the button sales goes to bring the Symphony to Cottage Grove. Buttons are $5.00 each and if you wear
your button to the Symphony performance on Monday, July 18th you get a free raffl e ticket for great prizes. Prizes are
an overnight stay at the Oregon Gardens; tickets to the Eugene Symphony’s opening performance in September or a visit
to Bochetta Day Spa. Buttons can be purchased at City Hall, Library/Community Center or Middlefi eld Golf Course.
Join us for a
lovely evening of music
INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO
5:30pm musicians with the Eugene
Symphony will be at the Bohemia Park
Pavilion. Th e Instrument Petting Zoo
provides a hands-on experience with
instruments from the symphony. It is
open to all ages but youth and children are
encouraged to try out instruments.
COMMUNITY BAND
6:30pm the Community Band are local
musicians that join together during the
summer.
#INSTABALLET
6:50pm to create and perform with
some assistance from members of the
community a special ballet just for Cottage
Grove.
EUGENE SYMPHONY
7:30pm the will take the stage and begin
their performance.
Bring a picnic or visit a food vendor.
Sponsored by the Bohemia Park Foundation, the City of Cottage Grove and many generous sponsors