Traveling this Summer? Arrange for Garden Help.

As a magazine editor for the horticulture business, it’s natural that I should do most of my traveling as commercial growers are planting and raising their crops, as breeders show off their latest plant varieties, and as garden centers are in full swing. I snatch up most of my frequent flyer miles between February through July, which also happens to be a gardener’s busy season.

When I travel, I’m away from my garden for long stretches. That’s not too much of a problem in early spring, when the plants—both veggies and weeds—are young and the temperatures are cool. Growth is minimal, and any problem with weeds is remedied with a half-hour or so of labor on my next day back in the garden. Up until mid to late May, a four or five day absence in the garden is not a problem.

Summer is a crucial time for the garden

June and July, however, are a different story. Days are hot and nights are warm, especially this year. The garden is growing feet per day it seems, and that’s both the intended and the unintended plants. I swear I’ve seen weeds emerge from the just-weeded ground in less than 30 minutes.

Time away from the garden in June and July, especially during hot weather, can have some nasty results:

• Plants can suffer from lack of water, weakening their defenses against pests and diseases.
• Weeds can grow out of control.
• Yellowing and dead leaves can become refuges for pests and molds.
• Overripe veggies can rot, also becoming refuges for nastiness.

Preparing the Garden for Your Trip

I just happen to be out of town for a 15-day stretch of business and vacation. Just as I arrange for someone to care for the cat, I arranged for a friend to water, and I gave her a thorough demonstration on the correct way to do it. I also gave her permission to harvest anything that ripens, which, as it happens, will be my first tomatoes. I’m sad about that, but rotting tomatoes do no one any good.

Watering the garden is chore enough; I wasn’t going to ask that she also weed the garden. Before leaving, I did a thorough weeding. I know I’ll have some weeds when I return, but I’m trusting my mulch will do its job and help keep them to a minimum.

I also removed yellowing leaves, especially the ones hiding under the enormous zucchini plants. And I clipped off some of the lower leaves on my tomato plants, knowing full well those would eventually turn yellow, too.

What will I see on my return? Hopefully with this vacation prep, I won’t have find to fight through the weeds and pests to find my tomatoes.