Photo by Seasonal gardening tips for the pickling enthusiast.
Weeding out the Competition
As a gardener and a lover of all things pickled, I’m always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to grow my favorite vegetables. One technique that has been gaining popularity in recent years is the use of landscape fabric to suppress weeds and extend the growing season.
Reader Nick in Parma Heights recently shared his success with using black polypropylene landscape fabric to grow cucumbers and tomatoes. By cutting ‘X’s in the cloth and planting through it, Nick is able to keep weeds at bay and retain moisture in the soil. He also reports that the black cloth holds in heat from the sun, allowing his plants to thrive even in cooler temperatures.
But landscape fabric isn’t the only trick up Nick’s sleeve. He also uses a combination of compost and well-draining soil to give his plants the best chance of success. And it seems to be working - Nick reports harvesting dozens of cucumbers and over 50 tomato plants, each yielding 1-2 pound tomatoes.
A Refreshing Solution
Another hot topic in gardening this summer has been keeping our gardens irrigated during dry spells. One creative solution that has been gaining attention is the use of plastic juice bottles as submerged reservoirs. By burying the bottles in the soil and filling them with water, gardeners can provide their plants with a steady supply of moisture even during the driest of times.
Reader Jack in Broadview Heights recently shared his success with this method, reporting that his raised beds are thriving even in the midst of a drought. And Master Gardener Carolyn Hufford has also been experimenting with reducing garden watering, using a terra cotta vessel called an olla pot to seep water into the surrounding soil.
A gardener uses an olla pot to water plants in a container garden.
Weathering the Storm
Of course, even with the best techniques and tools, gardening can be unpredictable. A recent windstorm in our area caused extensive damage to gardens, snapping copper pipes and destroying plants.
But even in the face of disaster, there is always hope. As one reader from Westlake reported, “I’ll try to prop them up again, and then pray that this week’s windstorm will fade into memory.”
A gardener inspects the damage to her garden after a windstorm.
As gardeners, we know that setbacks are a part of the journey. But with perseverance and creativity, we can overcome even the toughest challenges and enjoy a bountiful harvest.
A gardener harvests a crop of fresh cucumbers.
