Playing catch up in the garden and beyond

Plus, watering tips, preventing weeds, Father’s Day, and more! [From The Old Farmer's Almanac]( [Almanac] Thank you, Veronica Au in Chilliwack, BC, for [this week’s photo](! There’s a piece of folk wisdom that says that all plants—no matter when they were set in the ground—will catch up by the end of the month. Most of us are constantly measuring our gardens (and thus ourselves) against those of our neighbors, extended family, and friends. We feel badly for not planting the broccoli or zucchini sooner. Our sunflowers aren’t tall enough. The fence needs to be rebuilt or stained so that it looks better in photos. Why aren’t our tomatoes plumper, vegetables more abundant, and grass greener? All of this worry has a way of ruining a perfectly lovely afternoon in the garden. Perhaps, though, it would be more helpful to view our gardens—whether literal or metaphorical—as works in progress. The truth is that every garden is exactly where it needs to be . . . at least for now. And perhaps we are, too. The warmth of summer does, of course, make a garden grow! For example, [peppers]( will begin to thrive. As with [eggplant](, though, hold off on feeding until they blossom. More hours of sunlight do mean that you need to think more about watering. The rules of watering vary from edible to edible: [Tomatoes]( need to be watered consistently to avoid blossom-end rot, but [cucumbers]( don’t need a regular shower until flowers appear. Check out our [Vegetable Watering Guide]( for how much and when to water to ensure an abundant harvest. Every gardener spends more time than they’d like in thinking about weeds. Stop these unwelcome guests before they can take root with these [weed prevention tips](. [No matter what you’re growing in your garden, we have a guide!]( Finally, today is [Father’s Day](. Plan a fun day complete with a feast fit for a king with these [“dad-approved” activities and recipes](. One idea: If [blueberries]( are ripe near you, visit a u-pick farm and then turn your harvest into a mouthwatering treat with these [fresh blueberry recipes](! As sure as the Sun will rise and set each day, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is here for you, now and always. Your Friends from The Old Farmer’s Almanac “The truth is, of course, is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.” –David Bowie (1947–2016), English singer-songwriter and pop culture icon FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM [@THEOLDFARMERSALMANAC]( [Happy Father's Day]( Father’s Day celebrates and honors the men who have embraced the essential role of fatherhood. On this day, we also thank fathers and father figures for the sacrifices that they make, for embracing the responsibility of nurturing and raising children, and for devotion to their family. To learn more about this day honoring dads, visit [Almanac.com/dad](. WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS WEEK [Watering the garden]( [WATERING THE GARDEN]( [Preventing weeds]( [PREVENTING WEEDS]( [Having fun with Dad]( [HAVING FUN WITH DAD]( [Baking with blueberries]( [BAKING WITH BLUEBERRIES]( [Almanacs]( [Calendars]( [Digital]( [Cooking]( [Garden]( [Home Goods]( [Weather]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Pinterest]( [YouTube]( [Visit Almanac.com]( [Shop Our Store]( The Old Farmer's Almanac P.O. Box 520 1121 Main Street Dublin, NH 03444 You are receiving this e-mail message because you subscribed at our Web site: [Almanac.com]( If you do not wish to receive our regular e-mail newsletter in the future, please [click here to unsubscribe]( *Please do not reply to this e-mail* To report corrections or inquire about your account, products, editorial, technical issues, [visit our Help Page]( © 2020 Yankee Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. [View in Browser](