Article by Lorie Hammond - 

Did you plant your summer garden in April or May, and think that you are finished? But do you have spaces in your garden where something did not grow, or where an early crop is now finished? You might be happy to know that June is a great time to plant flowers and other crops such as pumpkins that you want to harvest in the fall. In my case, I have an October wedding in my family for which I hope to grow flowers, so I have been researching the right time to plant so that flowers will be fresh in mid-October. June is also a great time to plant in preparation for fall cultural holidays. 

Seed packets list the number of days from seed to maturity for a particular crop. Pumpkins take 90-120 days, or three to four months, to grow. If you plant them in April, you will harvest them in July or August. If your goal is to have pumpkins in October for Halloween, with some lasting for holiday pies, then June is a better planting time.

Likewise, June is a good time to plant a second round of flowers, which will be vibrant when others are fading from hot summer days. Zinnias flower sixty to seventy days after planting, and sunflowers can be planted repeatedly during the summer, requiring 70 to 100 days. Both pumpkins and these flowers can be planted in the garden from seed. The good news about late planting is that all of these plants germinate very quickly in hot weather. The challenging news is that the seeds must be kept moist, watered almost daily, and should be mulched. Once they germinate, plants should be hardy, but will still require more frequent watering than your established plants

Many Californians celebrate a Mexican holiday, dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 2nd. This holiday centers around the creation of an altar to honor people or animals who have passed away. Traditionally, this altar features marigold flowers, which were thought by the Aztecs to attract the dead back to visit, due to their vibrant color and spicy odor. If growing marigolds interests you, be aware that there are many types, but I would like to point out two that have captured my interest. The large, colorful Tagetes erecta marigolds are the traditional indigenous variety. They flower in 50-80 days and are an annual plant commonly sold in nurseries. Another marigold, Tagetes lucida is a perennial sometimes called Mexican mint marigold or Mexican tarragon. This plant is hearty and drought tolerant, and produces bright, small orange blooms in the fall. Its pungent, spicy odor is striking, and its leaves can be eaten as an herb. Both can be started in June, and will be ready to grace any Day of the Dead altar in early November.

Photos by Lorie Hammond, adapted.