The Rambling Gardeners July 2026 Garden Newsletter
Howdy from the Homestead
July was the garden at full tilt — corn tasseling, tomatoes by the armload, and the counter buried in salsa fixings. Peak Zone 8a summer, in all its sweaty glory. Here’s the month around the homestead.
This Month in the Garden
Peak Summer Garden
Walked the whole Zone 8a garden mid-season — corn, tomatoes, and everything in between coming on strong.
Three Sisters
Put in a three sisters planting — corn, beans, and squash together — and shared the part nobody tells you about.
Salsa Day
Turned the tomato and pepper glut into an entire batch of salsa in one tub.
Pest Patrol
Mixed up a pet-safe, no-DEET mosquito spray from garden herbs to survive the evenings outside.
What We’re Growing Now
Corn, tomatoes, peppers, okra, and squash are all producing at once. We’re watering deep, mulching hard, and picking daily to keep everything setting fruit through the heat.
Tip of the Month
In July heat, a day or two makes the difference between tender and woody. Walk the rows every morning — the more you pick, the more the plants give.
From the Kitchen
The big one this month: a full batch of fresh garden salsa made in a single tub from peak tomatoes, peppers, and onions — straight from the garden to the jar.
On the Channel This Month
- Zone 8a Peak Summer Garden | Corn, Tomatoes, and Everything in Between
- The Truth About Three Sisters Planting Nobody Tells You
- We Made an Entire Batch of Salsa in ONE Tub?!
- DIY Mosquito Repellent Spray From Garden Herbs (Pet Safe + No DEET)
- 5 Gardening Mistakes We Wish We’d Never Made
Coming Up Next Month
August turns the corner toward fall — starting cool-season transplants, the first elderberry harvest, and putting up the last of the summer haul. Get it in your inbox before anyone else.
