A thriving vegetable garden doesn’t have to suffer just because you’re heading out of town. With a little planning and the right preparation, you can keep your tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and other crops healthy while you’re away. We spoke to vegetable garden expert Jill McSheehy for advice on how to prep your garden before you head out on vacation.
Jill started her first garden in 2013 and has since turned a desire to reduce her family’s grocery bill into a full-fledged business called The Beginner’s Garden. She offers classes and hosts a podcast, all while finding time to grow and preserve most of the produce her family eats each year. And don’t forget to follow Jill on Instagram for more great vegetable gardening tips.
Q. What should I do with my watering schedule while I’m away?
A. Before you leave, take some time to figure out what your garden’s watering schedule should look like while you’re gone. Look at the weather forecast and see if it looks like it’s going to rain enough or if the garden will need extra water.
If you don’t already have it, setting up irrigation that runs on a timer is one of the easiest ways to keep plants healthy during your absence. There are smart timers, rain gauges, and weather stations that can be monitored remotely, so if it’s particularly hot, you can increase the amount of water or frequency, or if it rains enough (more on this below), you can turn the irrigation off so you don’t waste water. Check here for some of my favorite products.
Q. Which vegetables are most vulnerable to drought stress during my absence?
A. Any young plants and shallow-rooted crops are usually the first to suffer when water is scarce. If you’ve recently planted your fall vegetables, they are going to be especially vulnerable because they’re trying to establish roots during the hottest part of the year. Because of this, they may need more frequent watering and even temporary shade. Shade cloth attached to stakes is a great way to give them protection while they are getting established. More established plants tend to be more resilient and can better tolerate short dry periods.
Also, cucumbers can become bitter if they don’t receive enough moisture, and corn is another crop that requires a consistent supply of water.
Q. Should mulch be applied before heading out on vacation?
A. Ideally, mulch should already be in place, but if it isn’t, adding a fresh layer before your trip can make a big difference. Mulch helps hold moisture in the soil, reduces evaporation, and keeps soil temperatures cooler during hot weather. In warmer climates, lighter-colored mulches such as straw are especially effective. Shredded leaves and wood chips are also great options. The best mulch is often whatever is readily available in your area. If you use straw and keep chickens, one clever trick is to let the chickens peck through it before laying it down. The chickens will remove any seeds, and this will prevent the hay from sprouting.
Q. What vegetables should be harvested before a vacation, even if they’re not fully mature?
A. It depends on how long you’ll be gone, but it’s usually a good idea to harvest anything close to being ready. Tomatoes with even a little color can be picked and allowed to finish ripening indoors for about a week.
Any cucumbers and zucchini that are close to the ideal size should also be harvested. If they become oversized, they will lose flavor and signal the plant to focus on seed production rather than producing more vegetables. Mature bell peppers should be picked as well to encourage continued fruit production.
Q. How can gardeners protect their gardens from pests while on a trip?
A. If you are growing an organic garden, this can be a little tricky since many pest control methods require being hands-on: Think picking gross hornworms off tomato plants.
If you are worried about worms getting to your vegetables, spray the organic product called BT (which stands for Bacillus thuringiensis) directly on the leaves of the plants. When the pests, specifically worms and other caterpillars, eat the leaves, it affects their guts, leading to death.
It’s also worth walking through the garden before your trip to look for signs of disease, insect damage, or stressed plants that may need attention before you go.
Q. What instructions should you leave for a garden sitter?
A. Watering should be their top priority. Ask them to keep an eye on your rain gauge and turn off irrigation if the garden receives enough rain. For mature crops, about an inch of water per week is often sufficient. They should also check for leaks or irrigation problems.
The second most important task is harvesting. Show them exactly what to pick and when. Be as specific as possible about which vegetables are ready and what size they should be harvested. The more detailed your instructions, the better.
Q. Which plants should be pruned, staked, or supported before a vacation?
A. Before heading out of town, make sure vining crops such as cucumbers are properly trained onto their trellises. Tomatoes should be tied up securely, and any suckers should be pinched off before you go. Taking care of these tasks ahead of time can help prevent damage and keep plants productive while you're away.
Q. What’s the first thing gardeners should do when they return from vacation?
A. Think of your first garden walk-through as triage. Take note of everything that needs attention, then prioritize the most important tasks first.
During summer, harvesting should be near the top of the list, since overripe vegetables can slow down production. If crops have finished producing, it’s also a great time for succession planting or setting out new transplants. Be sure to tie up any vertical crops that have gotten unruly while you were gone.
As tempting as it may be to tackle the weeds immediately, weeding can usually wait until after you’ve handled harvesting, replanting, and plant support.
