Is it too late to plant a garden?

The answer is yes and no. It is too late to plant vegetables that require a long growing season, like tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn and eggplant. However, there are some plants such as green beans (bush), cucumbers, summer squash and beets planted in mid-July will have time to mature and produce a nice late summer crop. Don’t forget the fall garden; bibb lettuce, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale and potatoes are a few vegetables that if planted in July and August can be harvested in September or October.  Detailed information on growing a late summer and fall garden is available in the Home Vegetable Gardening in

Kentucky on the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension service web site. A free copy of the publication can be picked up at the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Office, 2705 Olivet Church Road in Paducah.

To learn about growing winter squash, please join the McCracken County Extension Master Gardeners for the July 7 Toolbox, Growing and Using Winter Squash in West Kentucky.The session will begin at 5:00 with Norman Wallace, local Master Gardener, presenting.  A brief

slide show will highlight nutritional values, ease of growing and storing, cooking ideas and

referrals to helpful resources for growing butternut, acorn, Hubbard and other winter squashes which are more kin to pumpkins than they are to summer squash.  Wallace has butternut squash in storage from last year's crop and will bring a couple to show.  Squash plants are to be given away, one per person attending, while supplies last that evening. The free program will be presented at the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Office, 2905 Olivet Church Road in Paducah. No advance registration is required.