Backyard Gardener

Story and Photos by Kat Long/Contributing Writer Two fun days this month: National Weed Your Garden Day on June 13, followed by Flag Day on June 14. The history of Flag Day dates back to June 14, 1777, when the British flag was replaced with the 13 stars and stripes. Flag Day became official in 1949 when President Truman signed legislation to make June 14 Flag Day every year. Traditionally, Flag Day is viewed as a time to honor the flag of the United States and its representation of freedom, our country’s ideals and this nation’s people. Flag Day is June 14 each year, and this year falls on a Tuesday. So let your Flag fly with yard flags, purchase a new flag for your flagpole or get your Fourth of July decorations out early to celebrate. I think it is important we understand the meaning of our national holidays. If you have a flag that needs replacing, there is a flag drop off location for your old/tattered/torn flag at the Parks & Recreation office, 905 W. Hartford. Now, on to the flowers.

Let’s talk about pinching those flowers … Many plants benefit from a pinch here and a pinch there. Herbs, such as basil, tarragon, dill or salad burnet, will grow wider and produce more if you give them little pinches here and there. Pinch tops off herbs when they start to flower. Basil is a lover of the pinch. These extra little leaves make dinner (no matter what you are cooking) much tastier.

Another pinching/trimming trick is with pepper flowers. Pinching off those first flowers will tell your pepper plant to put more energy into the leaves and roots. This gives you a sturdier, wider plant which last well into the fall since our pepper season can sometimes continue past September or even October. Just pinch those little flower stems or suckers. Another practice is called “topping” your pepper plants. The very top leaves hold most of the growth hormone of the plant. Take sharp, clean clippers or scissors and cut right under the Y at the top of the plant. This tells the plant to grow out, not up, just like pinching the flowers. Now you know.

Pinching Mums Technically, pinching mums is more like pruning, but pinching will work. Mums benefit from one to three pinches spaced about a month apart between May and July. Remove shoot tips with garden shears or your fingers, taking care to make a clean break just above a leaf node. Some plants may need some extra pinching to get them into shape on the sides, but stop pinching altogether before the end of July. This pinching should produce nicely compact bushy growth with lots and lots of flower buds in the late summer and fall.

Pinching Tomatoes The first couple of years of growing plants, I didn’t know nothing about birthin’ no tomatoes and the plants did OK. Then, a few years ago, I found a booklet called “300 Helpful Tomato Hints” or something along those lines. I read it and swore I would follow the tenants set up by the booklet. However, good intentions aside, I have not been able to put my hands on the booklet this year. I must confess to having “straightened up” my gardening magazines and books. This has led to being

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able to remember “seeing” the booklet, but having no idea where I put it. Heaven forbid it is someplace “safe.” The search continues, but in the meantime, I looked up some videos on Youtube and TikTok and found a couple of really good pointers: • Tomatoes like to grow up, so using a vining system with trellises or nets and attaching the plants as they grow taller will aid in keeping pests and disease away from the plant. • To further help alleviate mold and moisture problems, trim away the bottom of the plant branches (from the bottom six to eight inches). Bonus: these branches can be replanted and make new tomato plants.

In another book called “The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre” edited by Carleen Madigan, there is a nice chapter on Vegetables A to Z. In the tomato pages, “pinching suckers” is mentioned. Yes, go ahead and laugh. I cracked a smile. Referred to also as pruning, pinching off the shoots or suckers that grow out from the stems at the branching points will encourage larger fruits. And about those weeds. Please don’t use a weed spray, unless you want to mix up some vinegar (one gallon), salt (one cup) and dish soap (one tablespoon) and direct spray on the weeds on a sunny day. Other alternatives are pulling those weeds up by hand or better yet, enlist the children to get to pulling. Sure, you might lose some plants, but the commercial weed sprays will wreak havoc on your plants and pollinators. And you want to keep all the bees, lady bugs, walking sticks, etc. ... in your yard.

Now get to planning where to add extra herbs and plants as I hope to see all of you at the Herb Festival on Saturday, June 4. I have been asked to speak on growing and using herbs from the garden, and I hope to have a surprise guest who can answer some specific questions if anyone has questions. The Farmer’s Market at Pioneer Woman opens officially that morning from 8-11 a.m., and they have several new vendors. I heard a rumor that there are several new plant vendors at the LA Cann Herb Festival as well. Draggin Grand the night before, so keep your calendar clear for all the things. If you have tomatoes and mums already going, or possibly some herb plants, go forth and pinch. And of course, Happy Gardening.