An Estonian expert advised gardeners not to set their expectations too high
Eva Luigas, an Estonian horticulture expert and editor-in-chief of the rural lifestyle magazine *Maakodu*, urged people not to set their standards too high when it comes to gardening. According to her, working in the garden should bring joy and keep you interested, rather than becoming a source of stress.
Luigas told ERR News that she was unable to grow zucchini this year: three varieties produced only female flowers, so she’ll have to buy zucchini for soup. She also noted that she encountered difficulties with the cucumbers she was growing outdoors.
At the same time, the expert gave special mention to the Estonian tomato variety “Siive.” She sowed the seeds on April 11, transplanted the plants outdoors in June, and on August 5 harvested her first tomatoes grown in open ground without any cover.
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In August, the gardener advises collecting your own seeds and taking a closer look at the varieties of peas, cucumbers, and tomatoes that grow well in other gardeners’ plots. It’s also a good idea to tidy up flower beds with perennials, dig up garlic so the cloves don’t separate, and, if necessary, perform light summer pruning on apple trees after heavy spring pruning.
In early August, according to Luigas, you can apply fall fertilizer, plant, and propagate plants. She also recommended reseeding lettuce, dill, and radishes. If there is no free space in the garden beds, seeds can be sown in pots and later transplanted to available areas.
The expert emphasized that keeping seed packets, notes, or photos helps you remember the characteristics of each variety—growth habits, height, color of fruits and flowers, as well as flowering and germination times.
