July 2019 Weather and Birthdays

Whatever weather happens in July we can always count on it being a good month for tomatoes and other warm season crops to get their growth on. If you're close to your first homegrown BLT sandwich for the season, lucky you! I'm not even close.  

July is my birthday month, so no complaining about tomatoes or anything. I share the same day with the actor Kevin Bacon, so my degree of separation must only be five. That's a good reason to dance!

Below is the July temperature and precipitation forecast according to NOAA and as I have mentioned the last couple of months, they've been right on the money.  

Photos from NOAA online

Cactus Plants Rock - Check out Jim's Garden!

In my previous blog I wrote about Jim's outstanding permanent covering system over his vegetable garden. He installed metal posts and rolled screens to protect plants from hail and extreme heat. 

Jim recently sent me a couple of awesome photos of his cactus garden which I'm sharing with you.  Plus this is very timely because this Saturday, June 29, 2019 The Colorado Native Plant Society is hosting garden tours in Denver and Boulder where you'll see many cactus and native plants in their growing and blooming glory! Each city tour has six gardens that can be viewed in any order. Click here for ticket information.

Resources for Cacti and Native Plants -

CSU Online Yard and Garden Publications - Native Plants

Colorado Native Plant Society

The Cactus Man - Cold Hardy Cactus Online  

Prairebreak Cacti

Colorado Cactus and Succulent Society 

Plant Select®

THANK YOU JIM and KATHY!

Summer Cover Endurance

Jim next to his newest frame near garage

We all have a garden friend (or more than one) who has their garden act together. Their garden skills and plant success with annuals, perennials, vegetables, or any plant type they grow, they grow well, very well. That's Jim, who lives and gardens in Jefferson County, just a bit west of Denver. 

Jim and Kathy live on a unique property on a quiet cul-de-sac with a sunny backyard that slopes upward to showcase his fine collection of cacti, pollinator friendly perennials, vegetables throughout, including several raised beds, shrubs, trees and greenhouse. He also has bee hives and hotels, rain barrels, a compost area and attractive patio with pergola and decked out grill. It's truly a garden paradise!

A few years ago Jim became more than fed up with our unpredictable spring weather and the havoc that severe rain, hail and heat had on his vegetables. He was hailed out one too many times and said, enough! Jim did what any inspired, do it yourself, clever gardener would do - he built a permanent frame over his raised beds with easy roll screen cloth that serves as hail protection and shade from extreme temperatures in the nineties that often reduce flower blooming and fruit. He used one-inch electrical conduit, any height could be made. The corner fittings and rolled shade cloth were purchased online.

The key to success in permanent frames is to make sure the posts stay in place with our fifty-plus mile per hour stormy winds plus quick access to the screens - he's accomplished both. Jim is retired and pays close attention to weather forecasts. If the day or week looks iffy, he'll roll out the shades and relax while other gardeners fret and fuss if they're in the hail sweet spot that day. 

Jim's Framed Raised Beds and Greenhouse

Frame View Underneath and Top View, Shade Cloth is Easy to Roll over the Frame, fastened with Metal Clamps

Permanent Metal Posts for Frames

Rolled Out Screen over Tomato and Pepper Transplants (he started in his greenhouse)


Photo below taken by Jim after a heavy hail storm in 2018

Garlic Scapes

Home grown cool season lettuces have been on our dinner plate for a few weeks now. Next up - garlic scapes. Funny name yes, garlic you know, their scapes are the flower stalks of hard neck garlic varieties. Cutting the scapes down a couple of weeks prior to harvest will help the bulbs put on weight, meaning they'll grow to their largest potential, all good. 

Our garlic patch of 2019 looked to be one of the best in years until the middle of the night devastating hail storm ten days ago. Many of the leaves were injured so I'm not sure how the bulbs will be this year. You know I'll let you know after harvest.

Here's a blog from a year ago on how to cut your scapes. I also did a garlic harvest video with The Denver Post a few years ago, link below.

Time to Cut Garlic Scapes 

Fall Planted Garlic Harvest - The Denver Post video 

Don't toss the scapes ... eat them!!!

How to Cook with Garlic Scapes

Garlic Scape Pesto