7.4.26 - The 250th

Transcript

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Hey everyone, welcome back to the Keep Growing Podcast, your weekly guide to gardening in the Mid-Ohio Valley. I’m your host, John Morgan, coming to you from Bob’s Market in beautiful Mason, WV.

We’re kicking off the week with a big one—Happy 250th! July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. Whether you’re firing up the grill, watching fireworks, or just soaking in the history, take a moment to celebrate our nation’s birthday right alongside your garden. Maybe plant a few red, white, and blue flowers if you haven’t already!

Let’s talk about the week ahead, July 4th through July 10th, here in USDA Zones 6 & 7.

Tuesday, July 7 – Last Quarter Moon: Barren time. This is a great window for maintenance rather than planting. Focus on weeding, turning your compost pile, and general garden upkeep. While you’re out there, hand-pick any pests you spot—Japanese beetles, hornworms, or aphids love this time of year, so stay vigilant. A little daily scouting goes a long way to keeping problems from exploding.

Deadhead your flowers—especially zinnias, cosmos, and dahlias—to keep the blooms coming strong all season long. Snip spent flowers back to a healthy set of leaves or a new bud. The more you cut, the more they’ll produce. These summer stars will reward you with nonstop color right up to frost if you stay on top of it.

That’s the main focus for this Independence Day week. Keep things tidy, celebrate the blooms (and the birthday), and enjoy being outside.

Closing:

Check out our website at bobsmarket.com for full show notes and also our VIP Club—text notifications for sales, events, frost alerts, and more (and yes, you can text me your gardening questions too—scout’s honor, no spam!).

Until next time, happy 250th, keep those flowers deadheaded, and of course—keep growing!

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