#12: 6 Best July Gardening Tips (Zone 9 California)

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July is oftentimes the start of a really unpleasant time in the garden. Right now, as I look ahead to the forecast, we’re expecting 10-plus days of over 110 degrees. But our garden is in full production right now, so it is definitely not the time to give up. 

Best July Gardening Tips (Zone 9 California)

In today’s show, I want to give you some tips for surviving the hot days of July and taking advantage of the long growing season ahead.

July Gardening Tips

July is oftentimes the start of a really unpleasant time in the garden. Right now, as I look ahead to the forecast, we’re expecting 10-plus days of over 110 degrees. But our garden is in full production right now, so it is definitely not the time to give up. 

In today’s show, I want to give you some tips for surviving the hot days of July and taking advantage of the long growing season ahead.

Tips for Gardening in The Heat

As I record this episode in real-time, we’re approaching some really hot days ahead. I’m sure you’re aware of this if you’re in the Central Valley of California. 

If you’re in another state or another area of California, you might be going into a heatwave as well, or maybe you’re in one right now. July is typically a really hot month, no matter where you live, which can be a struggle when you have a garden. 

Nobody wants to be out in the garden when it’s 100-plus degrees outside; at least I don’t. But I’ve set things up in my garden to take care of themselves so that I don’t have to be out there. 

However, there is never such a thing as a completely hands-off garden; there are things you can do to make gardening easier in many ways, but there will always be some effort on your part.

Tip #1 – Automate Watering & Adjust Watering Schedule

My first tip is to automate watering. This is by far the most beneficial thing I’ve ever done in my garden. I think I’ve mentioned it probably in every episode I’ve recorded because it’s that important. I truly cannot imagine having to water my garden every day. 

We have a large garden right now, and if I had to water everything by hand, it would probably take me two hours to water my plants thoroughly. When it’s this hot, they need extra water. 

Sometimes, you might even have to water twice a day. I can’t imagine that at this stage of life, with a two-year-old son and all the activities and responsibilities that come with family life. Automating the watering process can free up your time for other gardening activities or family time.

I have an entire course on this, called Effortless Irrigation, which walks you through all the steps of setting up irrigation in your home garden.

It’s a one-time setup that will save you hours and hours every garden season to come. Adjusting your watering schedule is also crucial during this time of year. A watering schedule will vary throughout the year and sometimes even week-by-week. 

For example, it’s been in the 90s over the last couple of weeks for us, with a few days reaching the hundreds. I’ve been able to get away with watering my garden every other day or every two days for about 15 minutes per day. However, now that it’s been over 100 degrees for such a long stretch, I’ve changed the frequency to water every day instead of every other day. 

How to Adjust the Watering Schedule

There might even be some evenings when I water again, using the manual setting on the timer to check on my garden at the end of the day. If things are pretty thirsty, I’ll give an extra watering. 

If the soil still feels moist and the plants look okay, I’ll stick to once per day. This will vary based on your soil and exact weather conditions. You may need to adjust your watering frequency and the length of time you water.

How Long to Water Your Garden

Keep in mind that after a certain point, the water is no longer benefiting the plants and is just going away from the root zone. 

For example, if the hose is on for an hour, after about 15 to 20 minutes, the water will drain away from the plants. I recommend slower, more extended periods of watering versus quick watering that only gets the first few inches of soil moist. 

The best method is watering in intervals, such as slowly watering for 10 to 15 minutes, then watering again an hour or two later or in the evening if the soil is still moist. This method ensures the water is absorbed better, as dry soil can initially repel water until it becomes moist.

Tip #2 – Harvest Early and Often

My next tip is to harvest early and often. This is especially important when it gets this hot. 

If you wait too long to harvest, you might keep putting it off. If you can harvest a little bit daily, you’ll appreciate it as the days get warmer. 

The other day, I had a ton of peppers to harvest, and it took me about an hour to pick them all because I had waited a few days. Some crops, like green beans, can be particularly tedious to harvest, so frequent harvesting is better.

Tip #3 – Get Help with Garden Chores

Getting help is another important tip. The garden is my hobby, and I enjoy it, but sometimes you have to ask for help, especially during the summer when there are many chores like weeding and pruning. It can be difficult to ask for help, especially if others in the family don’t share the same passion. But sometimes, it’s necessary. 

Consider hiring someone to help, like a landscaper or a neighborhood kid looking for some outdoor activity. It can be a big relief and help keep the garden manageable.

Tip #4 – Replant Crops

There’s still so much you can grow in July, even though it feels like the season is ending because of the heat. You can replant cucumbers, squashes, okra, beans, tomatoes, and peppers. 

For tomatoes, consider taking a clipping off your plants, rooting them, and transplanting them. This method extends your harvest and is a great way to get more use out of your current plants.

Count backward from your first expected frost date to figure out your last planting date for warm-season crops. 

For example, if your first expected frost is on December 1, and a crop takes 60 days to mature, you would count backward 60 days and give yourself a few extra weeks to plant.

Tip #5 – Start Planning for Your Fall Garden

Now is also a good time to start planning for your fall garden. It may seem counterintuitive when it’s so hot, but it’s the perfect time to think about what cool-season crops you want to plant. Order seeds or plan your garden layout so you’re ready to plant as the weather cools.

Tip #6 – Check for Pests

Our last tip is to check for pests. Warm weather and stressed plants are more susceptible to pest problems. Check the undersides of leaves for eggs and pests. You can hand-pick pests or spray them off with water. Avoid using chemicals that can harm beneficial insects, which are vital for keeping pest populations in check.

Thank you for listening to another episode of The Audrey’s Little Farm Show. The description below includes all the links and resources mentioned in today’s show. If you’d like to join the Zone 9 Garden Club or get a free planting schedule, check out the links provided. See you in the next episode!

Summary

• Into to July gardening tips
• Tips for gardening in the heat
• Tip #1 – Automate watering & adjust watering schedule 
• How to adjust the watering schedule
• How long to water
• Tip #2 – Harvest early and often
• Tip #3 – Get help with garden chores
• Tip #4 – Replant crops
• Join the Zone 9 Garden Club
• How to figure out last summer’s planting date
• Tip #5 – Start planning for your fall garden
• Tip #6 – Check for pests

Podcast Feedback

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I really appreciate the feedback and it really helps the show get found by other gardeners.

Podcast Episode Resources and Links Mentioned

• Zone 9 Garden Club – Start your 14-day free trial.
• Free Vegetable Planting Schedule
• Effortless Irrigation
• How to Root Tomato Cuttings
• The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook

6 BEST July Gardening Tips (Zone 9 California)