6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in

WEEKEND GARDENING | Summer shade
Summer protection
tips
Choose site-appropriate plants in the first
place. There are varieties and cultivars of
many species that are specially bred to
cope with particular conditions.
Know plants’ water needs and plant those
with similar needs together so you can
water accordingly.
Improve your soil with organic matter so it
holds moisture within the soil.
Mulch to protect roots from temperature
extremes and to help soil retain moisture
and suppress weed growth. Mulch will
also help prevent erosion and slow heavy
rainfall so it soaks into the soil instead of
running off.
Plant in pots. That way, you can move plants
around according to plant species’ cultural
requirements and the weather conditions.
Create shade and windbreaks with either
living or non-living options.
Install or build a pond. This will help create
a microclimate within a garden and have
a cooling and moisture-creating effect,
especially if prevailing winds and airflow
cross over it. (See The Shed, page 68.)
Use antitranspirants. These products stop
plants from transpiring and losing water
during periods of high temperatures. They
also protect plants from frost and aid in
reducing transplant shock. I am not aware
of any certified-organic options on the
market, though.
Sometimes the flowers of tomatoes, for
example, may drop from heat stress, or fruit
development can suffer.
Establishing new
plants
When trying to establish new plants such
as shrubs and fruiting trees, aim do to so in
the cooler months if possible — spring at
the latest.
If this is not possible, the use of water
wells, water bags, water tubes and even
water bottle spikes are good options for
ensuring regular water during summer.
Inconsistent water during plant
establishment can lead to poor growth
and even death. Drip irrigation is always a
better option and far more effective than
misting irrigation in any situation.
Applications of seaweed and fish
emulsion will not only reduce transplant
shock but also strengthen the plants’
vascular systems and cell walls, making
them more tolerant of weather extremes
and less likely to succumb to pest and
disease attack.
Living shade: a wall of
sunflowers
Underplant corn with plants
that need a little shade
Lemongrass is happy in the heat
Brassicas like kale tolerate
some shade
Summer performers
Plants that cope with intense sun
Looking to Southeast Asian or
Mediterranean crops can be helpful
for knowing what will cope with our
hot summers. It just depends on what
type of summer you have: hot and
humid subtropical–tropical or hot, dry
Mediterranean-type summers. Asian
natives that like our tropical summers
include kang kong, amaranth, snake bean,
New Guinea bean, luffa, Ceylon spinach,
Surinam spinach, Okinawa spinach,
lemongrass, perennial or sawtooth
coriander, taro, cocoyam and rosella.
Capsicum, tomato, eggplant and chilli
love a Mediterranean-style summer, while
pumpkin, melons, cucumbers and sweet
corn also thrive in the heat but, if extremes
are expected, even these warm-season
crops may suffer.
Plants that cope with low water
If you need to ration water, plants that
won’t mind too much include rosemary,
lavender, artichoke, loquat, bay, olive,
persimmon, fig, pomegranate, various nuts,
feijoa (pineapple guava), sage, thyme,
samphire, grapevines, aloe vera, day lily,
dandelion, chicory and nettle.
Plants that cope with a bit of shade
Keep in mind that, although being grown
in a semi-shaded position reduces the
chance of scorching, it’s the ambient
air temperature that causes a lot of the
leafy green vegetables to bolt to flower
and seed. Some edibles that will tolerate
growing in a bit of shade, however, include
broccoli, kale, mustard, rocket, lettuce,
spinach, silver beet, endive and radicchio.
CanStockPhoto, Jana Holmer, Shutterstock
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