Be your own bees, Alaska gardeners

It could be me and where we live, but even as I go around town, I am not seeing bees. This could be a column on the use of neonicotinoids on flowers bought in from outside and sold locally, but instead let's use it as a reminder to make sure our plants are being pollinated.

Start with tomatoes and peppers as these are the easiest. Both are really self-pollinating flowers, meaning there is no difference between male and female flowers. Gently shaking the flower stalk works, as does using a small paintbrush or cotton swab and — like a bee — going from flower to flower. Some folks touch an electric toothbrush up against the flower stalk for a minute, turn it on and let it vibrate to imitate the vibration of bees. All these methods will work.

Squash and vine plants (pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, melons) are a bit more problematic as they have different male versus female flowers. You can tell the difference. The female flowers have a small thing that looks like squash fruit underneath them while the males simply have a stem. And you can see the pollen on the anther in the male. (If that description isn't enough, you can easily find example photos through a Google image search.) Some folks remove the male flower and use it to pollinate the female flowers. The paintbrush or cotton swab method is another way to get your female flowers fertilized so they will fruit up.

It makes sense to pollinate plants yourself, even if you are seeing bees and other pollinating insects. That way you can be more certain you will have a good crop. It doesn't take a lot of work, or a lot of time, but the returns are terrific.

And, of course, if you have a greenhouse, make sure there is a way pollinating insects can get in and out.

Next, it is time to plant second crops for harvest in the fall. Not only is there a distinct possibility that the growing season will last well past the old traditional date of hard frost here in Southcentral Alaska (Sept. 15) because of global warming, there are all manner of things that will grow during the rest of even a short, more traditional-length season.

Lettuce, radish, kohlrabi come to mind for second plantings. Why not fill in some of those holes created by the stuff you have already taken out of the garden? You can either plant directly into the gardens or you can start seeds, in flats, outside and transplant up as they develop. This time of year there is no need for supplemental lights.

It is also a good time to review your deadheading practices. Deadheading is what gardeners do to spent flowers, in particular, those of plants that will continue to bloom if their flowers don't go to seed. Some petunias, fuchsia, pelargoniums, lobelia, calendulas, marigolds, zinnias — most of our annuals, in fact — will continue blooming if you pay attention to the spent flowers. Simply snap them off with your fingers.

I like to put the pickings of deadheading onto the plant's soil. In nature, there is something called the Law of Return whereby the things plants develop from the soil's nutrients drop off and decay and go back into the soil to start the cycle again. Gardeners break this law all the time by removing harvests and flowers. This is, essentially, why we have to add foods to our soils, so adding dead flowers back helps.

Deadheading is a sort of harvesting. And speaking of harvesting, you should be eating the things in your garden that are ready to eat. Too many get all excited about gardening in the early spring, put in a garden and then forget about enjoying their work.

Kohlrabi, lettuces, radish, snap beans, chives and only you know what else are all waiting for their turn at the table. What are you waiting for?

Spruce bark beetles are back in Southcentral Alaska. This means you need to make sure the trees on your property get every break they can. Water is important during dry spells. Good air circulation under the tree canopy is said to help and can be accomplished by cutting some of the lower limbs to open up the understory. If you are concerned — and you should be if there is an infestation in the area — download the Cooperative Extension's pamphlet on the ways to protect your trees: bit.ly/2t6uuo2.

Finally, I am not even going to dignify the really silly and ignorant comments I got from some readers about mayday trees with a response — other than this: Gardeners shouldn't be selfish to the point of not caring about others. Your trees will produce seeds and shoots, which will invade the environment to its detriment. Why do you insist on being selfish?

Jeff’s Alaska Garden Calendar

Beer in The Garden: This is the third such annual fundraiser for the Alaska Botanical Garden. It's on July 13 at 6:30 p.m. and tickets always sell out fast. Visit alaskabg.org/event/beer-in-the-garden to get yours or for more information.

Slugs: Start putting out traps and searching for them.

Driveways: Sweep yours. It will make your property look better.

In bloom at the Alaska Botanical Garden: Blue poppies and peonies