Dear Gardeners,
Hope you and the gardens have had a chance to dry out a little. The beans are really making a push now and the squash have gigantic leaves. There are small green tomatoes in many places and it looks like a good summer harvest is coming along. Keep an eye out for basil downy mildew. We have had problems in the past few years and the humid weather will make this more likely. Removing affected leaves will help, but also using more resistant varieties is an option. More information here:
http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=578
We will have a workday on Saturday, June 28 at Eagle Heights from 8 am to 11 am. There is weeding to be done and path work as well as  maintaining the fruit plantings. Please reply if you would like to work this opportunity.
Please do not leave your hoses attached to the faucets since up to 12 gardeners share the taps. You may use sprinklers, but only while you are present in the gardens and position them so that they do not water your neighbors. Overhead watering is not recommended for some crops such as tomatoes since the wet leaves spread diseases. Please turn off the taps and store your hoses in your plots when you are finished to keep the paths free and open to cart traffic.
If you are pulling out bolting spinach and lettuce, consider putting in some bush green beans or cilantro or green onions. There is plenty of time for more carrots or beets to fill in the spaces.  With green beans, you can plant several small sections over time to have a more continuous supply.
The gardens are looking so green as you enter and the smells of dill and basil are so enticing. Enjoy the walk to your plot.
Gretel, Garden Registrar