Maine Home Garden News – July
In This Issue:
- July in the Garden: Holding Steady at the Height of the Season
- The Lavender Love-Hate Relationship: A Maine Survival Guide
- Seeing Seeds Differently (part 4): Corn
- Norway Memorial Library Pollinator Garden
- Ask the Expert: New Possibilities for Maine Gardens?
- Seasonal Sightings: Shrublands
- Featured Resource: Plant Lists By Bloom Time
- Maine Weather and Climate Overview
July in the Garden: Holding Steady at the Height of the Season
By Sandra Mitchell, Penobscot County Master Gardener Volunteer, Maine Master Naturalist
By the time July arrives, the garden has found its own momentum. The scramble of spring planting is behind you, beds are full, and the first harvests are well underway. Peas are winding down. The first round of greens are bolting in the heat. Tomatoes are finally coming into their own. Pollinators work the flowers steadily through the long daylight hours, and everything — wanted and unwanted — is growing fast. In my garden, it always seems like the weeds are outpacing just about everything else that the Japanese Beetles aren’t eating. Why can’t the beetles choose weeds to feed on, anyway?
Water Deep, Not Often
July in Maine means heat spells, unpredictable rain, and the temptation to run the hose every evening. Resist it. Frequent shallow watering trains roots to stay near the surface, where they’re most vulnerable to drought and heat stress. A deep soak two or three times a week — enough to wet the soil several inches down — is far more effective than a daily sprinkle. I’ve taken to using soaker hoses for this – it keeps the leaves dry and delivers the water directly where it is needed – much more convenient and less wasteful, and better for the plants as well.
Water in the morning when you can. Evening watering leaves foliage wet overnight, which invites fungal problems you don’t want. Tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers are especially sensitive to inconsistent moisture — irregular watering is one of the main triggers for blossom end rot (a calcium-uptake problem that worsens when water availability fluctuates) and misshapen fruit.
A good layer of straw, shredded leaves, or untreated grass clippings around your plants will do a lot of the work for you — holding moisture in, moderating soil temperature, and buying you time between waterings. Plus it helps beat back some of those pesky weeds taking over the world!
Keep After the Weeds
Weeds don’t slow down in July. Neither does their seed production. The goal isn’t a perfect garden — it’s preventing this year’s weeds from becoming next year’s problem. Pull or cultivate before anything goes to seed, focus your energy on the areas around vegetables and young perennials, and use mulch wherever you can. Even ten minutes of weeding a day makes a real difference over the course of a month. I can attest to how valuable this advice is, and I intend to follow it every year…..much like New Year’s resolutions, it only makes it so far into the season!
Watch Carefully for Pests and Disease
Warm temperatures and humidity create ideal conditions for trouble. In Maine July gardens, that typically means powdery mildew working its way across squash and cucumber leaves, Colorado potato beetle larvae doing real damage on potato foliage, impressive hornworm caterpillars munching away on tomato plants, and aphid colonies building up on a range of crops. And did I already mention Japanese Beetles?
The habit that matters most is simply looking — turning leaves over looking for egg masses and bugs, checking stems, noticing any discoloration or distortion early. Problems caught at the first sign are manageable. The same problems found two weeks later often aren’t. When you spot an issue, rely on research-based Maine resources to identify the cause and choose the most effective management approach.
Harvest Frequently
This sounds obvious, but it’s easy to let things slip during a busy week. Beans, zucchini, and cucumbers need to be picked regularly — not just for your kitchen, but because leaving mature fruit on the plant signals it to slow down or stop producing. A zucchini that’s gotten away from you isn’t just a punchline; it’s a week of production you’ve lost. Check your plants daily during peak season and harvest leafy greens before heat turns them bitter. On second thought, perhaps we DON’T want to maximize our zucchini production – some years, mine seem determined to take over the entire garden (and perhaps the world!)
Think Ahead to Fall
July feels like summer’s peak, but it’s also the opening of Maine’s second planting window. Mid-July is about the last chance to start brassica seedlings — broccoli, kale, cabbage — for fall transplanting. Cucumber, zucchini, beans, pea, carrot, beet, lettuce, chard, spinach, radish, turnip and arugula seeds can go directly into the ground now for harvest in September and October. Succession planting doesn’t require a major rethinking of your garden; it just requires remembering to do it while there’s still time.
A Note on July
The work of July is different from May’s work. It’s less about unchecked enthusiasm and more about maintenance — watering, weeding, watching, picking. It can feel less exciting than the rush of spring, but it’s where a lot of gardening skill actually lives: reading your plants, catching problems early, making small adjustments before they become big ones. And enjoying some of the fruits of your labors in the kitchen – be sure to check out the food preservation tips also available through the Cooperative Extension!
The gardens that produce well through September are usually the ones that were tended consistently in July.
The Lavender Love-Hate Relationship: A Maine Survival Guide
By Dr. Ankit K. Singh, Assistant Extension Professor and University of Maine Sustainable Agriculture/Ornamental Horticulture Educator
There is something about lavender that makes Maine gardeners lose their collective minds. We see those photos of rolling purple fields in Provence and think, “Oh my god, Yes! I can do that next to my woodpile.” Then February hits, the ground turns into an ice cube, and by May, our Mediterranean dreams have transformed into a collection of very expensive, very dead gray sticks. If you have ever stood over a shriveled ‘Munstead’ and felt like a failure, take a breath. You aren’t bad at this; you’re just gardening in a state that occasionally tries to kill everything you love (no offense, I really love Maine!).
The truth is, lavender and Maine are a bit of a “long-distance relationship” gone wrong. This species evolved on arid, sun-baked cliffs where the soil is basically just rocks. Meanwhile, in Maine we have heavy clay and “mud season.” It’s a miracle it grows here at all! But here is the secret: gardeners across the state, from the salty coast to the windy highlands are actually making it work. They aren’t doing it with magic; they’re doing it with a healthy dose of resolve and three specific strategies.
Strategy 1 – The “High and Dry” Philosophy:
If your lavender has “wet feet,” it’s already dead and it just hasn’t realized it yet. The combination of soggy roots and a deep freeze is a death sentence. To win, you must literally take the high ground. Plant on a slope, build a raised bed, or dig a hole twice as big as you think you need and backfill it with enough gravel to make a driveway. If it looks like a rock garden, you’re doing it right!
Strategy 2: Choose Your Fighter:
Do not be tempted by the fancy French varieties with the “rabbit ear” blooms. They’re gorgeous, but they have the winter constitution of a tropical houseplant. Stick to the English workhorses. ‘Phenomenal’ is a local favorite for a reason: it’s the rugged, flannel-wearing version of lavender that can actually handle a Maine January.
Strategy 3 – Manage Your Expectations:
In the South, lavender can live for a decade. In Maine? Treat it like a high-intensity summer romance! If you get three to five years of beautiful blooms, consider that a massive victory. When it eventually gets woody and tired, don’t take it personally. It’s just reached the end of its Maine journey.
Think of it this way: if we can survive six months of gray slush and black flies, we can certainly figure out how to keep a stubborn purple herb alive. It just takes a little less coddling and a lot more sand!
Seeing Seeds Differently (part 4): Corn
Introduction by Lynne Holland, Horticulture Professional; plant descriptions and photos by Citlalli Constantino, Master Gardener Volunteer
This time of year, my midwestern roots kick into overdrive. I can hear the record player with show tunes playing loud enough so we can hear it as we garden, and the song that sticks with me in July is from “Oklahoma.”
There’s a bright, golden haze on the meadow,
There’s a bright, golden haze on the meadow.
The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,
An’ it looks like it’s climbin’ clear up to the sky.
Growing up in Illinois, corn is in my DNA, where rows of it line the highway as far as the eye can see. It is in Lalli’s as well, but in a much different way.
CORN – Zea Mays
Ohhh Corn, Corn, the ancient Mayan Book “Popol Vuh” describes the beginning of humanity started by a corn seed, precisely by corn dough:
“The gods tried mud, and it dissolved. They tried wood, and it had no soul. They tried animals, and they could not speak. Finally, they ground maize into dough and shaped it into flesh, and humanity was born — thinking creatures made from corn. To the Mayans, this is not metaphor. It is literal. You are maize. The Maize God is your substance.” Yum Kaax: The Maya Maize God and the Substance of Humanity
The fact is that Central America is where corn started being domesticated; some studies mention this happened around 9,000 years ago. The origins of the wild corn are known as “Teocintle” (Zea mexicana) and it evolved with humans to be what we know as corn today. This important cereal/grass can be eaten in different ways or be used as a biofuel. In both ways, eaten or pumped, corn is energy!
Corn in Mexican culture is super important. An average Mexican eats corn every day in at least two different ways; the most important is in tortillas, starting from masa or a corn dough. Tortillas are as important as bread is for people from Europe and the US. For example, starting the day with breakfast with a tamal, then lunch in chips or chilaquiles, and the main meal or dinner in the famous pozole, which is hominy and pork meat. In pozole, the meat and hominy are simmered with a paste made with guajillo chiles and spices, mainly oregano, bay leaves, garlic, and onion, and is eaten during the Independence night. There is a beverage called “pozol” that is made with corn dough and cacao paste, which helps to refresh and calm hunger at mid-day. For cold nights, there is another drink known as “atole” with various flavors but with corn as the main ingredient and as a texture thickener. I could easily write a book to describe recipes and ways to consume corn in Mexican culture, but I think there are enough books about this topic.
Corn is not just important for Mexicans. Some years ago, I went to Cordoba Argentina where corn is known as “choclo”. I discovered a dish called “humita” and I was surprised by how delicious and easy to make this dish was. I could describe it as comfort food because it is dense, creamy, and must be consumed hot during fall or winter, similar to corn chowder.
In the US, corn is also present in the culinary culture; for example, as grits, or also in corn bread, or in summer as corn on the cob. Corn also made its appearance in Europe. In Italy polenta is not a main dish but it makes good company with some dishes from the south; and even in France, as a companion with ratatouille. Cornmeal helps to extend pizza dough easily when shaping and makes that famous Napoli pizza crust more crunchy. I must say this is a little secret that, as a cook, I’m able to share; please feel free to use it during your pizza making.
Corn is very easy to grow, and this growing process to me is almost mystical, because when I sow corn in the spring, I feel that special connection with the seed and my Mexican roots. The seeds sprout very fast, green monocotyledons, with some urgency to see and feel the sun. The seedlings set rapidly in the soil and they start to dance with the late spring winds. I like to think of the tiny plants as Mexicans, they love to grow very close, in community. That’s the success of fertilization; they spread the pollen through the wind and they help each other to stand straight and tall.
An important fact is that corn in Mexico is not as sweet as the US corn and also is not as yellow. There are many different varieties, but the corn produced in the south is pale yellow and with a very starchy and dense consistency. My favorite way to eat corn is on the cobb, popularly called: street corn. Since I was a child I’ve enjoyed my corn on Sundays when m
y father used to take my family to the park. Since I live in the US, every time I go to visit my family the first night they always take me to a park to eat street corn. I enjoy it a lot!
If you are interested in learning more about Mexican cuisine and culture, I suggest:
Rick Bayless “Authentic Mexican, Regional Cooking from the Heart of Mexico” and “Masa: Technique, Recipes and Reflections on a Timeless Staple” (books)
Diana Kennedy “The Essential Cuisines of Mexico” (book)
Anthony Bourdain “No Reservations, season 5, episode 1” (video)
Norway Memorial Library Pollinator Garden
Article and photos by Lourdes Engel, Oxford County Master Gardener Volunteer
In 2022, the Norway Memorial Library in Norway, Maine began an exciting initiative to enhance its grounds. In partnership with the Friends of the Norway Memorial Library and library director Beth Kane, an application was submitted to the University of Maine, Oxford County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program to become an official Master Gardener volunteer project. Once approved, this partnership launched a collaborative project dedicated to transforming the library’s outdoor space.
Through a series of planning meetings and thoughtful discussions, the team determined that the garden would focus on native plants and trees that support pollinators. This approach not only adds beauty to the landscape but also provides the opportunity for the gardens to be certified as pollinator-friendly.
The transformation required significant time and effort. Volunteers conducted soil testing; removed invasive plant species; and added compost, soil, and mulch. Native plants were introduced through both seeds and plantings, and a water source was installed to support pollinators. Informative signage was also created to help visitors identify plant species and understand their characteristics including bloom times, light requirements, botanical names, and the pollinators they attract.
The vision extended beyond aesthetics. The gardens were designed to serve as an educational resource for visitors of all ages. Adults and children alike can learn about pollinators and the importance of native plants. During the summer months, the library’s children’s reading programs incorporate activities centered on the garden, creating an engaging, hands-on learning experience.
Artist and creative contributor Steve Florenz played a key role in bringing the garden to life by designing a detailed garden map called the Norway Library Garden Island and creating a scavenger hunt for children. These features encourage visitors to explore the garden while learning in a fun and interactive way.
The Norway Library Garden Island is an illustrated map of the garden areas of the Norway Memorial Library. Steve created it in the summer of 2024 to encourage people of all ages to explore the grounds of the library; see what is growing in the four distinct garden areas; and learn about the plants, the soil, the insects, and the environment that contains us all. The map envisions the library as a magical island, surrounded by a vast ocean as a substitute for hard asphalt and noisy traffic. The four “thought bubbles,” which identify the four garden areas, contain information which changed with each issue of the map. Plant identification, pollinator lifecycle, soil structure, and the changing light of the seasons are presented as fun illustrated bits. There is an entire issue dedicated to insects. Children and adults can tour the grounds, color the map, complete the puzzles, and return to the library to receive a commemorative sticker as a reward for their efforts. The sticker, available at the front desk of the library, is called an “infocoin.” Though it does not have any monetary value, it is tangible evidence of the efforts expended and knowledge gained. The maps are printed in color on letter size paper at the library and, with the infocoin sticker attached, are a fun and informative souvenir of a visit to the library.
By 2025, the library was ready to apply for official certification as a pollinator-friendly garden. By the end of that summer, the gardens were successfully recognized and certified.
Looking ahead to 2026, the gardens will continue to be maintained and enhanced, with signage remaining in place to support ongoing education and engagement.
This project would not have been possible without the dedication of many volunteers over the past four years. Special thanks go to Beth Kane, Gail Everett, Steve Florenz, Linda Poto, Ann Siekman, and Master Gardener Volunteers Joan Beal, Phoebe Call, Lourdes Engel, and Shelly Shibles.
Ask the Expert
Q. As we encounter warming conditions, are there new things we can grow in Maine that we haven’t before?
Answered by Jonathan Foster, Horticulturist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
The short answer is yes. We can more successfully grow things in the garden, like sweet potatoes and okra (both of which you *can* grow in Maine now under the right conditions, but if you’ve seen them growing in the south, you understand my point), broader varieties of peaches, and trees like shagbark hickory and tulip poplar.
The longer answer is… it’s complicated. First, even for crops that appreciate the warmer temps, there will be a broader, subtler shift to increased growing seasons and longer flowering periods with species catching up gradually; and not so much an either/or, “now you can grow this in Maine when you couldn’t before” situation. Some climate models predict that 30 years from now our climate will be more like Connecticut is now (see links below). Gardening mid-state will be something more like gardening in northern Massachusetts is now – that’s a definite difference, and your rhododendrons will most certainly bloom earlier! But your garden won’t be filled with exotic and unfamiliar species. The only things that truly grow in Connecticut but won’t in Maine are species that are already borderline at their northern habit limit. There can and will be species that are marginal in, say, northern Massachusetts, that could migrate north (like the tulip poplar), but it’s tough to predict because climate change alters other factors as well.
Rising temperatures also increase overnight temperatures, humidity and heat retention, and pest and invasive plant species taking advantage of new ground. Maine forests are struggling already to adapt to changing conditions, and we are projected to lose a lot of the species that embody Maine over the next century. Efforts are already underway to begin planting our forests with new species whose range is moving into Maine – like the previously mentioned tulip poplar and shagbark hickory. It’s also tricky to answer how new species will acclimate here because the increased temperatures also coincide with more extreme weather events (think more windstorms and heavy downpours), which diminishes benefits of the overall change, both causing direct damage to plants and inhibiting efficient use of resources (e.g., most of those downpours run off). Several years ago, a warm spring followed by a surprise, late freeze killed off most of our peach crop for the year by destroying the emerging buds. Moreover, at our high latitude, plants predominantly rely on day length to regulate critical internal cycles like dormancy, and that won’t change with higher temps. But insect pests for those species might be unconcerned with day length and carry on a longer feeding season because it’s warm longer.
In the end, yes, there will absolutely be new species (plant and insect) arriving in Maine, and a loss of many current species in Maine, as climate change progresses. It’s difficult to predict what this will look like for any particular species because the situation is multifactorial, so it might or might not provide fertile ground for that tasty new vegetable or lovely ornamental shrub you’ve noticed when visiting more southern places.
Recommended reading:
Maine Organic Farmer and Garden Association: Climate Change and Your Garden
NewsCenterMaine: Maine’s Changing Climate
Seasonal Sightings: Shrublands
By Maine Audubon Native Plants Program Coordinator Jocelyn LaClair. Photos courtesy of Maine Audobon.
This month, let’s think about habitats instead of a specific species! When many people think about wildlife habitat, they picture forests, wetlands, or meadows. Yet some of Maine’s most productive habitats are places often overlooked; for example, shrublands, now often found along utility corridors. These sunny, open landscapes support an incredible diversity of life. Dogwoods, viburnums, willows, meadowsweet, and other native shrubs provide nectar for pollinators, berries for birds, and cover for wildlife throughout the year.
Many declining bird species—including Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Eastern Towhee, and Brown Thrasher—depend on shrubland habitats for nesting and foraging. Because powerline corridors are regularly maintained, they often mimic the natural disturbances that historically created these habitats across the landscape. When managed thoughtfully, these areas can become important refuges for wildlife.
Other July signs of wildlife to look for:
- Fireflies, or lightning bugs, are at their peak around now. They are neither flies, nor bugs, but beetles. Eleven night-flashing species can be found in Maine, in the genera Photinus, Photuris, and Pyractomena. These species spend their larval stages in the soil, and require healthy soils and an abundance of leaf litter. As adults, they need ecosystems with a diverse arrangement of foliage, especially native shrubs and grasses to take cover on and take flight from. Meadows and wetlands are often the best habitats to view their spectacular summer display.
- Our latest nesters, American Goldfinches, have begun to nest now. These seed-eaters time their breeding to take advantage of ripening seeds, especially from plants in the Aster family like thistles and Black-eyed Susans.
Featured Resource: Plant Lists By Bloom Time
Looking to fill a flowering gap in your perennial garden? Whether you’re hoping to add more color throughout the growing season or ensure pollinators always have something in bloom to forage, these bloom-time plant lists can help.
Organized by typical Maine bloom periods, they make it easy to select plants that provide continuous interest for both you and the bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that depend on them.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens What’s In Bloom
Wild Seed Project Native Pollinator Plants by Season of Bloom
Maine Weather and Climate Overview
By Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Cooperative Extension, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine
June Recap:
Average temperature for June was above normal in Portland, Bangor, and Caribou, driven mostly by hot weather June 3–5 and 8–15 with daytime temperatures reaching into the mid to high 80s Fahrenheit. In contrast, the latter half of the month brought daily temperatures near the historical average. This change in weather pattern was also associated with increased cloud cover and rainfall that led to major improvement in surface hydrologic conditions across the state. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor area rankings (issued June 23rd) show only 27% of Maine remaining in drought, particularly coastal areas of York and Cumberland counties and a broad area centered on upper Penobscot Bay. Some groundwater monitoring sites in affected areas continue to show drought signal carryover from last year, and recharge will require precipitation surpluses. Additional information is available from the Northeast Drought Early Warning System Dashboard.
July and Seasonal Outlooks:
The 1-month outlook for July predicts a lean towards above-normal temperature and equal chances of above or below-normal precipitation. The 3-month outlook for July–September predicts above-normal temperature and a lean towards above-normal precipitation. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center reports that El Niño conditions are present and expected to strengthen into the 2026/27 winter. There is a 63% chance of this Niño event becoming very strong during the November period, and with potential for ranking among the largest El Niños since 1950. Warm ocean temperatures and moisture released into the atmosphere during El Niño tends to produce more weather extremes than usual.
Maine Statewide 2026 Temperature & Precipitation Rankings
From NCEI Climate at a Glance
- May: 60th Coldest (near average), 29th Wettest (above average)
- Apr: 32nd Warmest (above average), 28th Wettest (above average)
- Mar: 34th Warmest (above average), 58th Driest (near average)
- Feb: 52nd Warmest (near average), 2nd Driest (much below average)
- Jan: 54th Warmest (near average), 28th Driest (below average)
- Spring (Mar–May): 30th Warmest (above average), 34th Wettest (above average)
- Winter (Dec–Feb): 60th Warmest (near average), 5th Driest (much below average)
For additional information, including historical temperature and precipitation data, weather forecasts, and seasonal climate outlooks, visit the Maine Climate Office website.
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Maine Home Garden News was created in response to a continued increase in requests for information on gardening and includes timely and seasonal tips, as well as research-based articles on all aspects of gardening. Articles are written by UMaine Extension specialists, educators, and horticulture professionals, as well as Master Gardener Volunteers from around Maine. The following staff and volunteer team take great care editing content, designing the web and email platforms, maintaining email lists, and getting hard copies mailed to those who don’t have access to the internet: Abby Zelz*, Barbara Harrity*, Kate Garland, Mary Michaud, Michelle Snowden, Naomi Jacobs*, Phoebe Call*, and Wendy Robertson.
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