July 5, 2025 - Weekly Gardening Guide
Episode Transcript
[Intro Music Plays]
Welcome back to the Keep Growing Podcast! I’m your host, John Morgan, and this is Week 28 of 2025, covering July 5th through July 11th. We’ve got a packed episode today with practical gardening tips to keep your garden thriving as we move deeper into summer. Plus, I’ll share the weather forecast to help you plan your week and a quick closing note about the next few episodes. Let’s dive in!
[Segment 1: Gardening Tasks for the Week]
Alright, let’s get to this week’s gardening to-do list. First up, it’s time to seed late sweet corn. If you want those juicy, sweet ears for late summer or early fall, now’s the moment to get those seeds in the ground. Choose a quick-maturing variety, and plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Space your rows about 30 inches apart, and sow seeds about an inch deep. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and you’ll be grilling corn at your Labor Day barbecue!
Next, it’s time to order garlic for fall planting. Garlic is planted in the fall for a summer harvest, and the best bulbs sell out fast. Look for hardneck varieties if you’re in cooler climates or softneck for milder regions. Check with local suppliers or trusted online sources, and get your order in now so you’re ready when planting time arrives in a few months.
Another task for this week: plant Napa Chinese cabbage. This crisp, mild veggie is perfect for fall harvests. Sow seeds directly in the garden or start them in trays for transplanting later. Napa cabbage loves cooler weather, so aim for a spot with partial shade if your summers are still scorching. Keep the soil consistently moist, and thin seedlings to about 12 inches apart for healthy heads.
Now, let’s talk spuds. It’s time to harvest new potatoes. These tender, thin-skinned beauties are ready when the potato plants start to flower or when the foliage begins to yellow. Dig gently with a garden fork to avoid damaging the tubers. Harvest only what you need for a meal, or store them in a cool, dark place if you’re digging up a bigger batch. Nothing beats the flavor of freshly dug potatoes!
For our berry growers, it’s time to tend to your raspberries. Remove raspberry canes after fruiting to keep your patch healthy. Cut down the canes that produced fruit this year—those are called floricanes—and leave the new, green primocanes for next year’s crop. Also, pinch the tops of black raspberry canes to encourage branching, which means more fruit next season. Snip about 3 to 6 inches off the tips when canes reach around 3 feet tall.
And finally, keep your eyes peeled and scout for Japanese beetles. These shiny, metallic pests love to munch on leaves, flowers, and fruit. Check your plants early in the morning when they’re less active, and knock them into a bucket of soapy water. You can also use traps or neem oil, but hand-picking is often the most effective for small infestations. Stay vigilant, because these guys can do some serious damage!
Oh, and one more thing: this Thursday, July 10th, is the full moon, which is a great time to plant root crops like carrots, beets, or turnips. The lunar cycle is said to favor root development during this phase, so if you’re into moon gardening, get those seeds in the ground!
[Segment 2: Weather Forecast]
Let’s shift gears and talk about the weather for Week 28, so you can plan your gardening tasks accordingly. Here’s the forecast:
We’re wrapping up the holiday weekend with a southerly flow around high pressure, keeping things mainly dry with above-normal temperatures. Expect warm, sunny days perfect for getting out in the garden, but make sure you’re staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen.
As we move into the workweek, the pattern shifts to a more active and unsettled one. A weak cold front approaches on Monday, bringing an increased chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon and evening. Some storms could be heavy due to daytime heating, but severe weather isn’t expected. Keep an eye on the sky if you’re working outdoors.
By Tuesday and Wednesday, showers and thunderstorms may become more diurnal—meaning they’re most likely during the day. If the cold front pushes through on Tuesday, we could see slightly cooler and less humid air by midweek, which would be a nice break from the summer heat. Plan your heavier tasks, like digging potatoes or pruning raspberries, for early mornings or evenings to avoid the wettest parts of the day.
[Segment 3: Closing Note]
Before we wrap up, a quick heads-up: the next three episodes of the Keep Growing Podcast will be pre-recorded. I’ll be out of the office attending tradeshows and other activities, so those episodes won’t include a weather forecast. But don’t worry—I’ll still be sharing plenty of gardening tips to keep your green thumb busy. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss them!
That’s all for Week 28. Get out there, seed that sweet corn, order your garlic, and keep an eye out for those pesky Japanese beetles. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, keep growing!
[Outro Music Plays]
