Garden Tips for Wet, Windy Weather
So the weather here in Holland has been very wet and windy! I believe we're in for a bit more rough weather later this week as well. This time has forced me to sit long enough to get some computer tasks finished and stop working in the garden for a few days LOL. I will choose working outside every. single.time!
I have popped outside for a few minutes here and there this past week and took note of tasks that you should complete in your garden to help your plant babies survive this weather...
Cage your bush tomato types to protect the stem in this wind. I ordered this trellis recently and liked using it so much, I ordered another set. You can either use it as an obelisk style or an a frame style. They snap together easily and are quite sturdy. I love using the a frame trellis for my determinate tomato types and then train peas to climb the outside. My tomatoes are always happiest when I plant nitrogen fixing crops directly with them and peas fix nitrogen in the soil. If you want to be sneaky, try planting an herb or leafy green in between the tomatoes to grow even more in the space.
Next, don't forget to secure your climbing tomatoes as well. I always train mine to climb my two arches. I love using this biostretch garden twine to tie my plants. I use it on my espalier fruit trees as well. It's stretchy like panty hose, but a lot more attractive!
See the lowest branch on this tomato? It needs to be removed. Grab your favorite pair of bypass pruners, make sure they are clean, and cut that off. Disease comes from the soil and all this rain will splash up onto the leaves of your plant. These are my absolute favorite bypass pruners and Okatsune snips are amazing too. You can feel the difference when you use them. I tried ordering them off Amazon, but they were not the same product.
Tie up tender perennials. One large gust of wind and they may topple over and break. My delphiniums are finicky, but a showstopper and worth the trouble!
Place an obelisk or secure your melons another way. I have this obelisk and yes, it is plastic, but it's a great look a like and a more affordable option! I am growing a couple muskmelons this year in them.
Put bamboo stakes in for your pole beans. Obviously, I still have to do this to mine. I love growing Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans and grow them on a 6' bamboo stake. You may have to tie the beans up the pole while they are young, but then they will happily twine up on their own.
Lastly, check your plant for any signs of distress. Rain is great for plants, but as much rain as we've seen in Holland this past week, nutrients are being washed out and the soil can get depleted. Be sure to amend your soil with some vermicompost when the rain lets up. An additional layer of vermicompost to your soil will not hurt. No need to worry about burning or killing your plant.
One more quick note. I started a YouTube channel that I plan to upload educational videos to! There are not many videos there yet, but my goal is add them regularly. I hope you will take a look and subscribe to my new channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcZerjFzI0fInBKFnKsSI_w
Summary:
So, just to summarize all the tips for this wet and windy weather in Holland:
Cage your bush tomatoes
Tie up your vining tomatoes
Cut the lowest branches off your tomatoes near the soil
Secure tender perennials
Place melons inside obelisk
Use bamboo stakes to secure beans
Amend soil with vermicompost and check for distress
Subscribe to my YouTube channel
Of course, if you need help solving a garden problem, schedule a free consultation today!
Let's Get Planting!
-Shannon
I would love to hear your thoughts. Let me know if you have a topic you would love covered! Creating personalized, relative content is important to me.