Dave Epstein: Savor the weekend and carve out time for some flower, vegetable gardening

Boston Globe

31-05-2025

Over the years, there have been many different varieties of container vegetables. One particular vegetable I like in containers is eggplant. The two varieties that I've grown are Hansel and Gretel, and these long, slender purple and white fruits will do well in the ground or a pot. The disadvantage of the containers, of course, is that you have to water them more often. This is the case with anything you put in a pot. Having an irrigation system with drip or something on a timer can help manage this.
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You can harvest asparagus into mid-June before letting it grow to recharge for next season.
Dave Epstein
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Basil, anyone?
If you planted your basil at the beginning of May, it may not look so good because of all the cool, wet weather. I grow most of my basil in containers, and I'll be adding that to the mix this weekend. Over the years, I have found that starting the basil outside in June helps mitigate disease anyway.
Edamame can be grown in the ground or in a container. I have trouble with chipmunks digging up the seeds, so I cover them with a cloth or a screen until they germinate. Pole beans and bush beans can still be put in the ground through mid-July.
Put in those annuals
In terms of annuals, anything you can find in the garden store is safe to go outside. Newer varieties of impatiens are more disease-resistant, so if you haven't used those for a few years, give them a try again. Marigolds, geraniums, and petunias are the workhorses of the annual garden. Bacopa, Scaevola, verbena, and tropical salvia are also fantastic in containers or directly in the ground.
Fill your window boxes and containers with various annuals for all-season color.
Dave Epstein
The tropical salvia is a particular favorite of mine because it attracts hummingbirds. They are not frost hardy, so be prepared to say goodbye to them as the hummingbirds move south. Add in some interesting foliage plants, such as canna, begonias, or coleus and you've got a good look that will last until frost.
A begonia in flower.
Dave Epstein
Geraniums are a great warm weather flower that continues blooming all summer.
Dave Epstein
If you have some sun, throw in some nasturtiums in a hanging basket. Not only will you have flowers that pollinators will like, but they're edible and look great in a summer salad.
At this point in the year, I would not be moving plants unless I absolutely had to. It's very risky and your failure rate would be high. If you notice something is just too big and needs to be put in a different spot, carefully dig it out, water it heavily, move it to its new home, and cover it with shade cloth for a week. If you can mist it a couple of times during the day and be sure the soil never dries out, you have your highest chance of success. But it's better to wait until late August and September.
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Iris bloom in late May and early June and are beautiful, but the blooms don't last long.
Dave Epstein
Leaf mulch
As we move forward through June with the strong sunshine and less regular precipitation, it's important to keep your garden weeded and keep those less desirable plants from taking water and nutrients from the ones you want. A 2- to 3-inch coating of leaf mulch will keep the ground from drying out much better than if it were bare.
Red garden mulch helps keeps weeds down and can be beneficial for tomato growing.
Dave Epstein
Remember not to put any mulch too high around a tree because you want to see the flare at the base of the tree. Don't volcano your mulch around the trunk. It's a recipe for problems.
Finally, if you're a lawn person, most lawns need about an inch of water a week so they don't go dormant. Some towns have water bans in place, making this difficult. However, if you can water, the best time is from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m., allowing the grass to dry out during the day, lessening the chances of disease.
The month with 15 hours of daylight is upon us. This brings an opportunity for lots of outdoor activity. Remember, it won't be long before daylight is shrinking, so make the most of it.
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Healthy trees will have the flare showing and not be covered by mulch.
Dave Epstein
Have a gardening question for Dave? Send them to [e-mail] and we will include them in an upcoming column.