It’s finally summertime in Rochester and it’s not too late to grow your garden. Summer in Rochester provides the perfect balance between sunshine and rain that is excellent for many different fruits and veggies. Late June is a good time to plant: tomatoes, watermelon, Swiss chard, summer squash, spinach, radishes, peppers, peas, okra, lettuce, celery, carrots, and beets.
To see the ideal planting and harvesting dates for plants that can thrive in Rochester, follow this link.
You can find reputable organic seed vendors here or check out a couple of these:
- http://www.harrisseeds.com/ → they’re located just a few minutes away!
- http://www.seedlibrary.org/
- http://www45.instantestore.net/merchant29320/
- http://www.turtletreeseed.org/
Planting a fruit and vegetable garden is a great way to develop a relationship with the earth and learn more about how it works. The best part about planting fruits and vegetables instead of flowers is that they’re just as beautiful when they grow and you get to eat them!
New to gardening? That’s okay! Check out these links to help get you started:
- http://www.rochestergardening.com/ → we all know that Rochester is special and these tips and links account for its unique qualities.
- http://www.sustainable-gardening.com/how-to/getting-started → Check this out for tips on gardening sustainably.
- http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/vegetable-gardening/5069.html
A few more quick (and dirty) tips:
- Do remember that gardening is a big responsibility; your plants will require time and attention.
- Do a bit of research on how much work your plants will take before you jump into action and make sure that you commit to your harvest. You will be so glad that you did.
- Please be responsible with your land and water usage. We are lucky to have access to inexpensive water here, but don’t abuse it; use only what you need.
- You can use your own compost as soil to feed your seeds with all of the nutrients that they need.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from experts. Employees at gardening stores are generally great people to answer your questions.
Good luck and happy gardening!
Written by Mariah Greico, Class of 2018
Photo by OakleyOriginalsBy: OakleyOriginals, Taken on July 19, 2013, Oodles of tomatoes and peppers ripe and ready to eat
Gardening is a really cool way to get a little food; a great thing about it is that there are different things that can be planted year-round. Stay posted!
Hello Patricia,
Wow, I like those vegetables! I’m currently working in the city and I find it toxic to go out daily to commute for work. Well, I missed planting vegetables in my backyard in my town. Probably I can go home this summer. 🙁