The production of a variety of fruit crops is very popular for growing in Washington parish. Look at the sequence of the crops grown and the economic impact they have on our parish’s economy. 

During the month of May an increasingly popular crop –Mayhaws - are harvested on 20-plus acres with a gross farm value of $87,000.

Blueberries are harvested during the months of June and July and are suited to the acid soil of the parish. The crop is grown on 45 acres with a gross farm value of $160,000.

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The most popular fruit crop grown is watermelon.  This crop is suited to the area’s sandy soil and with good fertility can be highly productive.

Watermelons are harvested from late June to September in this region. There are more than 1,000 acres grown this season with a gross farm value of $1,000,000.

High temperatures, both day and night, interfere with pollination and fruit set in many vegetables. Snap beans tend to drop their flowers readily under these conditions. Squash has a tendency to produce a large number of male flowers and, consequently, few fruit. Tomatoes and bell peppers set few fruit under hot conditions. Butterbeans will drop flowers, but will set some fruit.

Okra, Southern peas and eggplants, however, will continue to set fruit in summer. Green eggplants do not set as well under high temperatures as the purple ones, but the green ones tend to be less bitter during hot, dry weather. Seeds of green eggplants are not always available, but check out local sources and save seed from mature green fruit.

During the months of June and July what can you plant?  You can plant okra, heat-tolerant tomatoes (Heat Wave, Solar Set, Sunny, etc.), peas, eggplants, sweet potatoes and hot peppers.

Crape myrtles: If your crape myrtles have a white powdery substance on the foliage, it is called powdery mildew.  Powdery mildew can cause poor flowering and unsightliness of your plants.  Powdery mildew can be controlled with routine spraying with Funginex, Benomyl, Orbit, Topsin and Fung-Away.

Speaking of crape myrtles, have you noticed the ones on Louisiana and Avenue B in Bogalusa that replaced the old, unsightly ones?  It is a very colorful, beautiful sight. 

I hope that the city continues to beautify with trees and other plants that will add to its overall appeal. Hopefully, the next site will be Willis Avenue to replace those Bradford pears under the power line and in Franklinton. It could easily be called Crape Myrtle City.  They are everywhere and just gorgeous.

Other things to do in the yard during this time of the year are to care for your camellias and azaleas. Camellias and azaleas need care to set a good crop of flower buds for next year.

Healthy, vigorous plants will set buds, but weak plants may not. If plants lack vigor, fertilize, provide moisture during stress periods and control pests. Remember that these acid-loving plants need a pH of 5.5.