Wichita gardener’s almanac for Aug. 13, 2016

Turn, turn, turn — After the oppressive heat, it seems that a page has been turned and we’re heading toward autumn with lower temperatures. The garden chores listed here look toward a fall or next-spring harvest. I always hate to see summer end. But there’s no denying the achingly beautiful, home-fires-burning pull of fall. And nowhere to go but right into its bright falling leaves.

Planting calendar for a fall garden — Lettuce, radishes, spinach, green beans, summer squash; if you can find plants, you can also plant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.

Waiting on winter squash — While summer squash such as zucchini and scallop (pattypan) is harvested while it’s immature, winter squash should not be harvested until it’s mature or it will shrivel and rot, Ward Upham of K-State says. That’s usually in September. Look for winter squash to change color as it matures — butternut from light beige to deep tan, acorn a deep green color with a ground spot that changes from yellow to orange, hubbard a gray or orange.

Also test for a hard, tough rind by trying to puncture it with your thumbnail or fingernail. It shouldn’t go through. Lastly, the stem should be dry enough that excessive water doesn’t drip from it, Upham says.

Store winter squash in a cool, humid spot, ideally 55 to 60 degrees with 50 to 70 percent relative humidity. In those conditions, acorn squash will usually last five to eight weeks, butternuts two to three months and hubbards five to six months, according to Upham.

Fertilize strawberries — If you’re growing spring-bearing strawberries, fertilize with nitrogen now to increase the number of fruit next year, Upham writes in the Horticulture 2016 newsletter. A general application rate is 1/2 to 3/4 pound of actual nitrogen per 100 feet of row, though you can increase that amount by about half if you have sandy soil, Upham says. The nitrogen can be in a fertilizer mixture such as ammonium phosphate or 12-12-12, or in a fertilizer containing only nitrogen such as urea or ammonium nitrate, he says, giving these examples:

▪ Iron plus (11-0-0) at 6 pounds per 100 feet of row

▪ 12-12-12 at 5.5 pounds per 100 feet of row

▪ Nitrate of soda (16-0-0) at 4 pounds per 100 feet of row

▪ Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) at 3 pounds per 100 feet of row

▪ Urea (46-0-0) at 1.5 pounds per 100 feet of row

After fertilizing, sprinkle with at least a half-inch of water.

Spray for pine tip moth — If you treat Scotch, ponderosa or mugo pines for Nantucket pine tip moth, spray immediately for good control of the third generation, Upham writes.

Garden events

Sunshine the Bunny at Botanica — The theme for the next Tuesdays on the Terrace is Hyacinths and Hurricanes. Sunshine the Bunny will provide the music, and drinks and dinner will be for sale from 6 to 8 p.m. Picnics also are welcome. Cover is $10, $5 for members.

“It’s Hot Outside, But These Are Some Cool Plants” — Jason Griffin, director of K-State’s John C. Pair Horticultural Center in Haysville, will be at Botanica on Wednesday to talk about choosing heat- and drought-tolerant plants for our tough environment. His lunchtime lecture, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission or membership. Lunch will be for sale for $8 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Annie Calovich

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for Aug. 13, 2016."