Now is the time to plant fall harvest veggies

The gladiolus produces a large, showy flower spike that lasts for several days both in the garden and in a vase. It makes a great cut flower and was a favorite of mine to grow while growing up. It’s a plant you do not see often in the home garden. Buy corms and plant them in spring after the danger of frost has passed. Stagger the plantings to extend the season of blooms. To get the most out of a bloom for indoor decoration, cut when the lowest blossoms have begun to show color. Place the cut stem in water as quickly as you can.

Clip brown tips on pines

If the new growth at the tips of your Scots pine or Austrian pine branches has turned brown, a fungal disease called Diplodia tip blight may be the problem. It is too late to spray fungicides now, as infection occurs in the spring. Prune out dead tips in dry weather to reduce the spread of infection and dispose of the debris in the garbage. Disinfect pruners in between plants when pruning out diseased branches. I use Lysol disinfectant.

Plant now for fall harvest

During the first week of August, plant short-season snap beans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, carrots, mustard greens, spinach and radishes for fall harvesting. Continue to harvest herbs by either snipping foliage, drying entire sprigs or plants, or freezing individual portions in ice cube trays. Pinch off developing flowers to retain essential oils and flavor in the plants’ foliage.

Containers may need fertilizer

If the plants growing in your containers or baskets are looking stunted or have leaves that are yellowing, they may need supplemental fertilizer. The frequent watering required for containers and baskets can leach nutrients out of the growing medium. Use liquid fertilizer as needed to perk them up.

It is best to fertilize containers and baskets when the plants are moist and not dry. Fertilizing plants that are very dry can result in damage to the plants’ roots. Annuals growing in garden beds may also benefit from fertilizer if they are stunted in growth and off-color, as long as other potential problems like over- or under-watering can be ruled out. Over-fertilizing can result in large green plants with reduced flowering.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.