Big harvests from Michigan's short, bright season
In Michigan, the season is short, bright, and worth every minute. With frost never far from either end of the calendar, the goal each week is simple: keep your warm-season crops racing ahead while planning the cool-season plantings that love Michigan's crisp fall.
This is the time to stay picked and stay planted. Harvest beans, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes often to keep them producing, and as each early crop finishes, refill the space — lettuce, spinach, and kale sown in late summer will feed you deep into fall, especially with a simple row cover to shrug off the first light frosts. Near the lakes, that extra week or two of mild weather is yours to use.
Watering is where many gardeners run into trouble. Deep, early-morning watering a few times each week is almost always better than a light daily sprinkle — particularly in Michigan's sandy soils, which drain quickly and dry out faster than they look. A good layer of mulch keeps that moisture where your roots can use it.
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