There is nothing like fresh vegetables from the garden. Especially when the garden produces so much that it can be shared with friends and neighbors. An excellent way to share over abundant produce is to take it to food banks to be distributed to others in the community who would greatly appreciate it. Food banks also provide an excuse for those of us who enjoy growing vegetables, but do not enjoy consuming them. In fact, garden enthusiasts might even be encouraged to grow extra fruits and vegetables with the intention of bringing much to food banks.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County, located at 750 Curtner Avenue in San Jose is open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday; their telephone number is 408 - 266 8866. The Sacred Heart Community Services at 1381 South First Street in San Jose is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday and may be reached at 408 - 283 5800. Also in San Jose, the Emergency Housing Consortium  located in the Regional Reception Center at 2011 Little Orchard St. is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am through 5:00 pm and may be contacted at 408 - 294 2100. In Saratoga, Grace United Methodist Church at 19848 Prospect Road can also accept produce on Sundays from 9:30 to 11:00 am. Mountain View Community Services is open at 204 Stierlin Road in Mountain View from 10:00 am to noon and from 2:00 to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday and may be contacted at 650 - 968 0836. There are other drop - off sites , but I’m not able to list them all. Feel free to contact me at tony@AskTonyTheGardener.com.

By now, vegetable gardens should be producing well. Tomatoes may be a bit delayed this year, but showing abundant green fruit. However, lettuce may be much less abundant. The sudden heat early in the season has probably caused it to “bolt” (produce vertical floral growth). When this happens, the desirable lettuce greens are shed in preference of the flower stalk. If some greens are salvaged, they will probably be bitter. When lettuce bolts, it is best to remove the mature plants, leaving less mature plants which may not have bolted. It is possible that these will grow and produce good lettuce. Every year, my neighbor manages to grow the best lettuce greens in town, even after warm summer weather. (Nothing frustrates me more than my inability to grow lettuce next door to the best lettuce in town!)

This also seems to be a bad season for rust on roses. When rust is this bad, it is important to dispose of all parts pruned off rose plants properly. If pruning litter is left nearby, spores emerge from primary infestation and easily drift back to rose plants to re-infect. It is also important to remove litter that is shed from rose plants and falls to the ground. Because most rose diseases are enhanced by high humidity, it is best to irrigate early in the day so that foliage and surroundings can dry during the day. Incidentally, rust can not survive temperatures warmer than 80 degrees much longer than nine days. Earlier hot weather may have set it back considerably, although results may not be seen until about now.