Late Summer Fruit Gardening Tips

We hate to say it, but we’ve officially reached the last full month of summer — *cue the communal “awww.”* But alas! There is some good news. As we prepare to say “goodbye” to summer, we say “hello” to a new crop of delicious fall fruits that have been patiently waiting to make their appearance. Keep your crops thriving throughout the fall with a little help from us.

Protecting Your Existing Crops

Clean up, Clean up…

If there’s one thing your garden needs more than water, it’s a clean area to grow in. Getting rid of any weeds or fallen fruits won’t just make your garden look nicer, it’ll actually keep it healthier. Fruit that has fallen off the vine can become diseased and infect nearby plants, and attract bugs — two things no gardener wants to hear!

Keep Critters Out

There is one thing that helps us part with the warm, glorious months of summer — knowing that as it leaves, it’ll be taking the bugs with it. But it’s important that you don’t rely solely on the cooler weather as your defense against bugs. An organic pesticide spray is exactly what you need to protect your garden.

Prune any Branches and Leaves

Even in the healthiest, most well-kept garden, leaves and branches are going to die. When they do, it’s important that you cut them off to prevent them from decaying and infecting healthy parts of the plant.

Feed Your Tomatoes

Tomato plants need plenty of water to survive, so you should continue watering them each evening. If you have green tomatoes, you should consider moving them inside towards the end of August and placing them on a well-lit windowsill.

Growing New Crops and Trees

We all love the juicy berries and watermelons that summer brings, but we often forget that fall also has some truly delicious fruits to offer. Keep your green thumb entertained all season long by planting some cooler weather fruits and fruit trees now.

• Apple trees. With thousands of apple trees to choose from, you should have no trouble finding the perfect tree for your backyard. Most apple trees take between two and four years to grow, so get started on yours this season!
• Cranberries. For those of you just starting your adventures in gardening, cranberries are a great, low-maintenance shrub to start with. Once picked, these tiny, red berries can be enjoyed on their own, added to your favorite cocktail, or made into cranberry juice.
• Pears. The secret to lowering your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol may be lying (or hanging) in your backyard. Pears are traditionally grown on the West Coast, but with proper care, they can flourish on the East Coast, too.
• Peaches. States further down South may be known for their peaches, but peach trees are surprisingly adaptive and will survive in plenty of northern states with mild climates.
• No matter what season we’re in, you can bet that Fruit Bouquets will always have fresh fruit!