Once The Plants Are Underway

At this stage, we watch them grow. We provide water for them and watch for pests and critters and act accordingly. What we are seeing is some virile growth now - plants getting some muscle, coming up out of the ground with stalks and leaves, spreading out and growing upwards. There will be the obvious struggle with sunlight and many plants will be seen as responsive to the direction of the sun, literally growing in that direction. Other factors we now worry about are much more general and far less worrisome.

Water

I know, I know, water again. I only mention this now because of the timing. There are better ways to water at this particular juncture than others. Flooding can be superior for certain species as opposed to spraying over the tops of the plants. Some plants can collect mildew, especially if they are watered at night. My hearty recommendation is to water in the early morning hours and thus avoid the problems stemming from water sitting on the leaves during the night. Lettuces are extremely vulnerable to this, as are many vines, such as squashes and melons. I also advocate - where possible - to "flood water" - water the bases of the plants as opposed to raining down sprays at this stage of development. The roots are the users of water for the most part and they are the thirstiest part of plants.

Weather

Rain is a great boost for plants of all types. All plants are geared for rainfall as an adjunct to growth. In fact, it's how they became plants in the first place. Gentle rains are wonderful. But the more powerful storms can be deadly. Hail has always been a crop destroyer. Likewise a rainy summer can work in much the same manner, if it stays persistent. This year in the US, powerful Spring storms ruined an entire year's worth of crops, a deadly pass that caused widespread problems among the farmers it affected. On a smaller scale, naturally it can cause the same disasters. However, once faced with any part of this, there are ways to protect oneself, especially since we are on this smaller scale.

In a drenching wet summer, naturally turn off the watering system, first off. Provide channels for the water to run off and a drain system to accept the excess water. For the owner of small garden, this is very do able. When the farms are facing disaster, it is all the more important for one's own food garden to thrive. Cool wet Summers are not necessarily utterly disastrous. Some care can prevent problems and still give you an abundant garden resource.

Wind

Wind is another disrupter but can be handled by some foreknowledge of when the big winds might take place and some appropriate staking beforehand. Many upright plants such as corn can literally blow over and break in the bigger and more violent winds. Stake them prior to the storms and generally, relax, knowing your help will see this plant through.