June 28, 2025 Weekly Gardening Guide

Episode Transcript

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Welcome back to the Keep Growing Podcast! I’m your host, John Morgan, and we’re here to guide you through another week of gardening goodness here in the Mid-Ohio Valley. It’s Week 27 of 2025, covering June 28th to July 4th, and we’ve got a packed lineup of tasks to keep your garden thriving. Plus, we’ll dive into the weather forecast and lunar planting tips to help you make the most of this week. So, grab your trowel, and let’s get growing! 

Alright, let’s jump into this week’s gardening tasks. First up: staking peppers. Your pepper plants are likely getting tall and heavy with fruit by now. To keep them upright and healthy, stake them using bamboo, wooden stakes, or even tomato cages. Tie the stems loosely with soft twine to allow for growth. This not only prevents branches from snapping but also improves air circulation, reducing the risk of disease. Pro tip: Check your stakes after those nighttime showers we’re expecting this week—wet soil can loosen them up. 

Next, it’s time to seed half-runner and pole beans. These are perfect for a late-season crop. Half-runners are a great middle ground between bush and pole beans, giving you a solid yield without needing a massive trellis. Pole beans, of course, are climbing champs—set up a sturdy trellis or teepee for them to climb. Sow seeds about an inch deep in well-drained soil, and with the warm temperatures we’re seeing, you should see sprouts in 7 to 10 days. 

Speaking of seeding, this is also the week to plant late cabbage, corn, and snap beans. For cabbage, choose varieties suited for fall harvest, like ‘Storage No. 4’ or ‘Late Flat Dutch.’ Corn needs warm soil, and with highs in the mid to upper 90s this weekend, conditions are ideal—just make sure to plant in blocks for good pollination. Snap beans are quick growers, so get them in the ground now for a late summer harvest. 

Now, let’s talk harvesting summer squash. Your zucchini and yellow squash are probably pumping out fruit like crazy. Pick them when they’re 6 to 8 inches long for the best flavor and to encourage more production. Use a sharp knife to avoid damaging the plant, and check daily—those squash can hide under leaves and turn into baseball bats overnight! 

A quick heads-up: scout for tomato blight. With muggy nights and dewpoints in the low 70s, conditions are ripe for early or late blight. Check your tomato leaves for dark spots or yellowing, especially on the lower foliage. Remove affected leaves immediately, dispose of them (don’t compost), and consider applying an organic fungicide like copper-based sprays to protect your plants. Good airflow—think pruning and staking—helps, too. 

Finally, it’s a great time to seed carrots and Swiss chard. For carrots, loosen the soil to at least 12 inches deep and sow seeds thinly to avoid overcrowding. Swiss chard loves the warm days and cooler nights we’re expecting, especially in the northeast mountains where dewpoints drop to the low 60s. Try colorful varieties like ‘Bright Lights’ for a pop in your garden and on your plate. Keep the soil moist for good germination. 

Let’s check in with the lunar calendar. The First Quarter Moon arrives on Tuesday, July 2nd, making it a prime time to plant or harvest aboveground crops. This phase is perfect for crops like beans, corn, or summer squash, as the moon’s energy supports leaf and fruit development. If you’re harvesting, Tuesday’s a great day to pick those peppers or squash for peak flavor. 

Now, let’s talk weather, because we’ve got a lot going on this week. Expect muggy nights with dewpoints in the low 70s in the lowlands, dropping to the low 60s in the northeast mountains. Saturday will be hot, with heat index values in the mid to upper 90s—stay hydrated out there! Nighttime showers and storms are possible Saturday night as a cold front moves in from the Great Lakes, so secure any lightweight garden structures. 

Sunday brings fewer clouds and slightly warmer afternoons, but watch for isolated storms with heavy downpours—good for your plants, but check for water pooling around your beds. By Monday, unstable conditions persist as a warm front lifts north, and a new cold front arrives by Tuesday morning, bringing more showers and storms. Midweek, we’re looking at drier conditions and seasonable temperatures, with apparent temperatures staying below advisory levels. All in all, a warm, wet start to the week, so plan your planting and harvesting around those rain chances. 

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Before we wrap up, a quick recap: Stake those peppers, seed half-runner and pole beans, late cabbage, corn, snap beans, carrots, and Swiss chard. Harvest your summer squash, and keep an eye out for tomato blight. Use that First Quarter Moon on Tuesday for aboveground crops, and stay ready for showers early in the week. 

That’s it for Week 27! If you’ve got questions or want to share your garden wins, drop me a line on X @bobsmarket or at keepgrowing at bobsmarket.com. Until next week, keep your hands in the dirt, your heart in the garden, and, of course, keep growing. 

Keep Growing is brought to you by Bob’s Market and Greenhouses, Incorporated. Copyright 2025 

Featured Music: America First March (1915), John Philip Sousa, As Performed by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band

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Header Image via pxHere - CC0 Public Domain