~~~ This is a Sample Garden Outlook ~~~
Sparta, TN
July 11 - July 17
Jessica's Garden Outlook
Early Summer in Sparta, TN
Week of July 11
Hi Jessica! Here's your personalized garden outlook for Sparta, TN, written on Friday, July 11, 2025.
It's early summer, week twenty-eight! We have what you need to know for the three plants you track. First, the summary - what to do about it can be found if you scroll down a bit (each plant is linked to its own page):
It's early summer in Your Sparta Garden....
Early summer in your subtropical garden is a time of vibrant growth and abundant harvests! Your plants are working hard under the intense sunshine, so it's important to help them thrive by keeping their roots cool and well-hydrated. Deep watering means soaking the soil thoroughly so moisture reaches the roots, which helps your plants handle the heat. Spreading mulch-like straw or shredded leaves-around your plants keeps the soil moist and cooler, reducing stress on your crops. With these simple steps and a watchful eye for pests, you'll enjoy a flourishing, productive garden all through the heart of summer!
What to be aware of in Week Twenty-eight
Watch for signs of heat stress, such as wilting or leaf scorch-provide extra shade with row covers or shade cloth if needed. Be alert for sudden pest outbreaks, especially after rain-inspect plants closely and act quickly to prevent damage.
What's Growing in Week Twenty-eight
During early summer, you'll notice your garden bursting with growth and many crops ready for frequent harvests. Some plants may wilt in the afternoon heat but should perk up by evening if they're well-watered. You may see more insects and need to water more often as the days stay hot and dry. Expect your garden to reward you with colorful blooms and plentiful vegetables, but be prepared for the extra care needed to keep everything thriving in the summer heat.
What to do in Week Twenty-eight
Why These Tasks?
By focusing on deep watering and mulching during mid-summer, you help your plants develop strong roots and stay cool, which is essential for thriving in the heat. Regular pest checks and timely harvesting keep your garden healthy and productive, so you can enjoy more vegetables and flowers. These practices set you up for a successful, rewarding summer season in your subtropical garden!
Priorities this Week- Water your garden deeply 2-3 times per week, making sure the soil is moist at least 6 inches down-this encourages strong root growth and helps plants handle heat.
- Spread a 2-3 inch layer of mulch (such as straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves) around your plants, keeping it a few inches away from stems to prevent rot.
- Check your plants daily for signs of pests like aphids or caterpillars, and remove them by hand or use organic sprays if needed.
- Harvest vegetables and herbs regularly to encourage more production and prevent overripening.
Basic Maintenance Tasks- Weed your garden beds weekly to reduce competition for water and nutrients-pull weeds by hand or use a hoe, being careful around plant roots.
- Check mulch regularly and replenish as needed to maintain a 2-3 inch layer for best moisture retention.
Fertilizer & Nutrients- Apply a balanced fertilizer (look for numbers like 10-10-10) every 3-4 weeks to support ongoing growth-follow package directions for your crop type.
- Side-dress heavy-feeding plants like tomatoes and peppers with compost or slow-release fertilizer to keep them productive.
Pest Prevention- Look out for aphids and spider mites, which thrive in hot, dry weather.
- Spray affected plants with insecticidal soap or use a strong stream of water to remove pests.
Plant Health- Water at the base of plants early in the morning to keep leaves dry and reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
- Remove any yellowing or diseased leaves promptly to prevent the spread of problems.
Cucumbers7-Day Forecast
Day
Night
Rain
Fri
Jul 11
89°F
70°F
0"
(19%)
Sat
Jul 12
89°F
70°F
0.16"
(54%)
Sun
Jul 13
90°F
70°F
< 0.1"
(61%)
Mon
Jul 14
88°F
68°F
< 0.1"
(39%)
Tue
Jul 15
91°F
69°F
0"
(22%)
Wed
Jul 16
92°F
71°F
0"
(29%)
Thu
Jul 17
91°F
71°F
0.14"
(54%)
Too hot
Too Warm
Optimal
Too Cool
Too Cold
Cucumber Quick Reference
Temperature Ranges
Min/Max Survivable Temperature: 50°F / 95°F
Min/Max Optimal Temperature: 60°F / 85°F
Watering Summary
With 0.5" rainfall expected this week, for in-ground plants, add 1.5" and and for containers, add 3"
Climate Tolerances
Rain Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Heat Sensitivity: Medium
Climate Preference: Hot Humid
Soil Drainage Preference: Well Draining
Planting Details
Minimum Container Size: 5 gallon
Succession plant every 21 days for continuous harvests
Temperature Guidance
🌡️ It's warm out there! Your Cucumber plants may need some extra care.
Your cucumber plants thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 85°F but may not survive below 50°F or above 95°F.
Affected days: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Here's how you know your plants need extra care and what you can do to help:
For the warm conditions:
If leaves curl slightly or new growth slows, offer afternoon shade and water deeply in the morning.
Watering Guidance
💧 Some Wet Days - But you still need to water
The total expected rain this week (0.5") is less than your plant's needs in summer.
Cucumbers need consistent moisture because they contain over 95% water and have moderately shallow roots that can't reach deep soil moisture during drought, but they're also susceptible to fungal diseases when overwatered
How much water to add:
For plants in the ground: In-ground plants need 2" total, so add 1.5" beyond the expected rainfall this week
For plants in containers: Plants in containers need 3.5" total, so add 3" beyond the expected rainfall this week
How to tell if it's too wet:
Look for yellowing lower leaves or a musty smell from the soil. Skip watering for a few days and gently poke holes in the ground to improve air flow. If the wet conditions persist, cover the plants lightly during rain. Trim lower leaves so none touch bare soil.
How to tell if it's too dry:
See if leaves droop and don’t perk up by morning or if soil pulls from the pot edges. Water thoroughly every day or two. When dry spells last longer, add mulch around the base to keep moisture in.
Tomatoes7-Day Forecast
Day
Night
Rain
Fri
Jul 11
89°F
70°F
0"
(19%)
Sat
Jul 12
89°F
70°F
0.16"
(54%)
Sun
Jul 13
90°F
70°F
< 0.1"
(61%)
Mon
Jul 14
88°F
68°F
< 0.1"
(39%)
Tue
Jul 15
91°F
69°F
0"
(22%)
Wed
Jul 16
92°F
71°F
0"
(29%)
Thu
Jul 17
91°F
71°F
0.14"
(54%)
Too hot
Too Warm
Optimal
Too Cool
Too Cold
Tomato Quick Reference
Temperature Ranges
Min/Max Survivable Temperature: 32°F / 95°F
Min/Max Optimal Temperature: 60°F / 85°F
Watering Summary
With 0.5" rainfall expected this week, for in-ground plants, add 1.3" and and for containers, add 2.5"
Climate Tolerances
Rain Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Heat Sensitivity: Medium
Climate Preference: Moderate
Soil Drainage Preference: Well Draining
Planting Details
Minimum Container Size: 3 gallon
Succession plant every 35 days for continuous harvests
Temperature Guidance
🌡️ It's warm out there! Your Tomato plants may need some extra care.
Your tomato plants thrive in temperatures between 60°F and 85°F but may not survive below 32°F or above 95°F.
Affected days: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Here's how you know your plants need extra care and what you can do to help:
For the warm conditions:
Observe for signs such as slight leaf curl and reduced flower production. Provide afternoon shade and water deeply in the early morning during warm spells. Use light-colored mulch for extended warmth.
Watering Guidance
💧 Some Wet Days - But you still need to water
The total expected rain this week (0.5") is less than your plant's needs in summer.
Tomatoes have moderately deep roots (cherry varieties have slightly shallower roots) that help them withstand short dry periods, but they need consistent moisture to prevent fruit splitting and blossom end rot, especially during fruit development. Too little water, and they will not be able to take up nutrients, too much water will cause splitting.
How much water to add:
For plants in the ground: In-ground plants need 1.8" total, so add 1.3" beyond the expected rainfall this week
For plants in containers: Plants in containers need 3" total, so add 2.5" beyond the expected rainfall this week
How to tell if it's too wet:
Watch for signs of too much water: yellowing lower leaves, musty soil smell, or slow growth. For short wet periods, skip watering and ensure good air circulation. For long wet conditions, also improve drainage with organic matter and consider covering plants during continued rain.
How to tell if it's too dry:
Look for dry stress signs: drooping leaves that don't recover overnight, dry soil pulling from pot edges, or stunted growth. For short dry spells, water deeply every other day at soil level. For long dry periods, also add organic mulch and consider drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
Basil7-Day Forecast
Day
Night
Rain
Fri
Jul 11
89°F
70°F
0"
(19%)
Sat
Jul 12
89°F
70°F
0.16"
(54%)
Sun
Jul 13
90°F
70°F
< 0.1"
(61%)
Mon
Jul 14
88°F
68°F
< 0.1"
(39%)
Tue
Jul 15
91°F
69°F
0"
(22%)
Wed
Jul 16
92°F
71°F
0"
(29%)
Thu
Jul 17
91°F
71°F
0.14"
(54%)
Too hot
Too Warm
Optimal
Too Cool
Too Cold
Basil Quick Reference
Temperature Ranges
Min/Max Survivable Temperature: 50°F / 95°F
Min/Max Optimal Temperature: 70°F / 85°F
Watering Summary
With 0.5" rainfall expected this week, for in-ground plants, add 1.5" and and for containers, add 2.8"
Climate Tolerances
Rain Tolerance: Low
Drought Tolerance: Low
Heat Sensitivity: Medium
Climate Preference: Hot Humid
Soil Drainage Preference: Well Draining
Planting Details
Minimum Container Size: 1 gallon
Succession plant every 21 days for continuous harvests
Temperature Guidance
🌡️❄️ It's both warm and cool out there! Your Basil plants may need some extra care.
Your basil plants thrive in temperatures between 70°F and 85°F but may not survive below 50°F or above 95°F.
Affected days: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
Here's how you know your plants need extra care and what you can do to help:
For the warm conditions:
Watch for early heat stress signs such as slightly curled leaves or slowed growth. During short warm spells, water deeply in the morning. For extended warm periods, also apply light-colored mulch (such as straw) and provide afternoon shade.
For the cool conditions:
Search for cool stress signs like purple leaf undersides or growth stunting. For brief cool periods, cover plants overnight. For ongoing cool conditions, also use dark mulch for warmth.
Watering Guidance
💧 Some Wet Days - But you still need to water
The total expected rain this week (0.5") is less than your plant's needs in summer.
Basil needs regular water because it has relatively shallow roots and large, thin leaves that lose moisture quickly through evaporation, especially in hot weather
How much water to add:
For plants in the ground: In-ground plants need 2" total, so add 1.5" beyond the expected rainfall this week
For plants in containers: Plants in containers need 3.3" total, so add 2.8" beyond the expected rainfall this week
How to tell if it's too wet:
Look for signs of too much water like yellowing leaves at the bottom, musty smelling soil, or slow growth. If it's just a short wet period, skip watering and make sure the area around the basil has good air flow. For longer wet periods, improve drainage by mixing in some well-draining amendments like sand or vermiculite/perlite, and consider using a temporary cover during rainfall. Basil dislike soggy soil.
How to tell if it's too dry:
Check for signs like drooping leaves that don't perk up by morning, soil that looks pulled away from pot edges, and slow growth. If it's a short dry spell, give a deep watering every other day at the soil level. For longer dry spells, also add organic mulch and think about using drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
Garden outlook written on 7/11/2025, 3:57:17 PM - KitchenGardens.com