July Gardening Tips: July is the beginning of “the dog days of summer.” By now, your garden is probably starting to look a little tired and wilted. However, you may notice that some of your plants are thriving in the heat.

Okra and peppers do great in the heat and their production should be at its height for the next few weeks or even months. Now is a great time to pull out some of those plants that are suffering and set out your fall seeds if you haven’t already begun to do so.

You can even pull up some of those suffering cucumbers, summer squash, and tomatoes, and start over with seeds or seedlings. Now is the time, if you haven’t already gotten them in the ground, to plant cantaloupe, honey dew, pumpkin and even watermelon, if you get them in in the early part of the month.

If you have a drip irrigation system, it is, without a doubt the best way to water your garden.   If you do not have one, water early in the morning.  Watering later in the afternoon, can leave water on your plants overnight, which can lead to mildew.

Did you enjoy reading July Gardening Tips? To see previous months’ garden tips, click here.  For example, you will find tips about olive trees, invasive species, seasonal harvests and more. #howdoesyourgardengrow