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Hello July! In Michigan, it means the summer crops are beginning to come on strong. Is your corn “Knee High by the Fourth of July?” Have you entered yourself in competition for having the first ripe tomato in your neighborhood? Are you sneaking over and putting bags of zucchini on your neighbor’s porch?
Even though we are in the middle of summer, it is already time to think about planning your fall garden. Fall broccoli, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower seedlings can be started indoors in July to put in the garden at the end of August.
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In-Person and Virtual Herbal Houseplants: Grow Beautiful Herbs IndoorsMonday, August 15, 6:30pm Herbs make great houseplants! New techniques, efficient grow lights, and herb varieties specifically bred for compact spaces offer a better and easier way to grow these lovely plants indoors. Susan Betz, author of "Herbal Houseplants," will teach us which herbs perform best as houseplants, how to care for them, and how to harvest and use our homegrown herbs for culinary and household creations. |
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Blend, brew, and enjoy an irresistible selection of herbal teas while herbalist Bevin Cohen shares his knowledge on the history and folklore of various herbal ingredients. Document your impressions of each herb’s aroma and flavor as we explore the various layers of a well-crafted herbal tea. Create a custom herbal tea to enjoy at home with a make-and-take activity! |
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The Michigan Seed Library Network’s 2022 “One Seed, One State” choice is ‘Boston Pickling’ Cucumber. This fast-growing cucumber variety can be sown directly into the garden up until the end of June and still bring in a crop before frost! Libraries around the state, including the Lyon Township Public Library, are offering seed for this cucumber. Please visit the LTPL Seed Library to pick up your seeds and brochure so you can participate in growing this special crop along with hundreds of other Michiganders! |
LTPL is proud to host a Seed Library! We are well-stocked with seeds that you need for planting this summer! From sunflowers to zucchini, we have loads of seeds that are available at no cost to you! The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. First time users of the Seed Library need to register. You may do so with this form or in-person at the seed library. Once you have registered, you log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet. Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with plenty of informative and entertaining videos! |
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This July: Sidedress your crops with compost or organic fertilizer to give them a midsummer nutrient boost.
Continue to add mulch to help your plants through the hottest days of the year. Grass clippings are a great mulch as long as you follow some guidelines. Do not use grass from a lawn that is treated with herbicides or pesticides. Avoid putting down a thick layer of freshly cut grass as it can heat up while decomposing and injure your plants. Let it dry for a day or two before placing it in the garden, and spread it in a thin layer, adding to it every time you mow.
As you harvest your garden, replant with fast-growing varieties of crops that will germinate in the heat of summer: beets, carrots, chard, green beans, basil, cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini.
Find additional resources to get started here: |
Whether you grow on a farm or in your backyard, soil health is the key to growing every kind of crop. This book takes a broad, complicated subject and breaks it down into easy-to-understand chapters about tilling, amendments, cover crops, soil microbes, and composting, just to name a few. |
Illustrated with loads of beautiful photos, this book is a comprehensive guide to growing healthful herbs and using them in tinctures, salves, oils, tonics, vinegars, and teas. |
This guide explores the different plant families of salad greens and how to grow them as the seasons progress from spring to winter, both indoors and outdoors. Dowding is truly a master of the garden world, and the book is full of gardening insight supported by lots of instructional color photos. |
Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources! |
Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events. |
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