Park Timbers HOA

Summer Gardening

May 13, 2002

Summer Gardening
First, we'll look at landscape gardening -- and then vegetable gardening. During May you can plant several summer annuals and perennials either from seed or as young plants. Because our climate produces such intense heat and high humidity in the summer, it's a good idea to grow plants that can handle heat. You might try one of these:

--Gloriosa Daisy, which is the glorified black-eyed Susan.

-- Daylilies, which will bloom on a limited basis into fall, depending on the variety. --Periwinkle, an annual, that is tolerant to heat. Also called vinca, periwinkle will reward you with white or lavender blooms all summer and into fall. Pink and rose colors are now available, too.

--Cockscomb, also called celosia, is colorful, long lasting and comes in yellow, reds and oranges.
-- Zinnia, which comes in either dwarf or large sizes and will bloom heavily if cut often.

Other plants that can withstand the summer heat are marigolds, geraniums, cosmos, copper plant, croton, wandering Jew, coleus, canna, portulaca, alternanthera, flowering tobacco, shrimp plant, plumbago, lantana, snow-on-the-mountain, perennial verbenas, salvias, butterfly bush and butterfly weed.

You also can plant balsam, cleome, caster bean, dwarf dahlia, four-o-clock, impatiens, moon flower, moonvine, morning glory and sunflower.
Bulbs and bulb-like plants to include in summer gardens are caladium, canna, crinum, hemerocallis, lycoris, water lily and zephyranthes.

Spring usually provides your plants with as much water as they need, but summer will be a different story. You will need to water your plants as summer approaches. When you water, be sure to give the soil a good soaking and not just an occasional sprinkling.

Now, let's look at vegetable gardening. Timing is critical in May. Some vegetables should be planted in the first part of the month. These are bush snap beans, lima beans, sweet corn and hot peppers. If planted later, these vegetables are subject to damage from summer heat.
Vegetables that can be planted throughout the month include sweet potato transplants, okra, southern peas, pumpkins, peanuts, watermelons, cucumbers, cantaloupes, collards, squash and eggplants.

While our intense summer heat really can take its toll on many vegetable crops, some plants actually thrive on the high temperatures. These vegetables are okra, southern peas, hot peppers and eggplants -- especially green eggplants. For summer tomatoes try the cherry, plum or small fruited types.

You can get more information about landscape gardening and vegetable gardening by calling the county agent in your parish office of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.