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What to do in the garden in July π¦οΈ, pod picker mistake π«, commonly consumed bug π, & more ππ΅
Published 3 days agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Hi, Desert Gardener,
July in the southwest is a month of changes. Monsoon storms bring welcome rainfall, humidity, and cloud cover β all a great relief for your plants.
But monsoon storms can also bring flooding, hail, dust storms, and damaging wind. And an increase in moisture leads to more insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds.
All these changes mean there are changes in gardening activities this month, as well. So be sure to check out the July gardening guide.
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I've recently mentioned some of the desert's more unusual plants like boojum tree and queen of the night. Today's featured post is one of the desert's most unusual insects -- cochineal. In Mexico and South America, cochineal has been cultivated for centuries as the source of bright red dye.
Today, cochineal is one of the few red dyes approved by the FDA. It's still used in foods (red candies, beverages, sausages, jams, canned fruit, cake mixes, fruit yogurt, ice cream, etc.) and in cosmetics. So if you've eaten these foods or used lipstick, you've probably been eating bugs. π€’π
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In this week's newsletter, we cover:
What to do in the garden in July
Featured plant: Screwbean mesquite
How to harvest mesquite pods safely
White fuzz on your cactus
and more!
July Gardening Guide
In the desert southwest, July means the arrival of monsoon storms, which bring higher humidity and much-needed rain. Discover what you should and shouldnβt do in the garden, and things to watch out for during this changeable month. Get the details here ββ
A Reader Asks
"My mesquite tree is raining down seed pods. I've heard they're edible. Any tips about how to eat them?"
I'm so glad you asked before eating! The #1 mistake newbie pod pickers make is to harvest those on the ground. If you plan to eat them, you should only pick ripe pods that are still on the tree. Pods on the ground may be contaminated with bacteria or fungus that produce aflatoxins.
Doing it right is easy once you know how. You'll find everything you need to know in the University of Arizona's guide Mesquite: It's Food.
Screwbean Mesquite: Distinctive Native
This small, native mesquite can be grown as either a large shrub or small tree. Itβs easily recognized by its distinctive corkscrew seed pods and is one of the best plants for attracting and supporting wildlife. (Humans find their pods tasty, too.) βRead more ββ
Fun Fact!
It takes 70,000 cochineal insects to produce 3 oz. of pure pigment.
Cochineal scale is an insect pest found almost exclusively on prickly pear cactus. Itβs not usually serious, but it can disfigure and weaken your plant. Learn how to identify it, what to do if your cactus has it, and steps to prevent infestations. βRead more ββ
Upcoming Tucson Events
There are lots of interesting garden events and classes coming up soon! Upcoming highlights include: * Edible Landscaping 101 @ Green Things (6/29) * Monsoon Gardening @ Pima County Master Gardeners (7/1, online) * Rainwater Harvesting Class @ Watershed Management Group (7/1)
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
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