Newkirk Community Garden Newsletter, July 2026
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Dear Gardeners & Friends,
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Summer is here, and the garden is full of life! We have leafy greens, fruits like raspberries and strawberries, many herbs and flowers. As we move into the hottest month of the year, here is everything you need to know about what’s happening in our garden this July.
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🧘 Qi Gong with Talia
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Looking for a moment of calm. Join us for our new, intimate Garden Qi Gong Class. This small-group session is designed to help you de-stress, center yourself, and connect deeply with nature right here in our garden.
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| • | When: Sunday, July 26th | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
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🌱 Container Seed-Planting Workshops
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Want to learn how to successfully start plants from seed in containers.
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Planting with Cecilia on a hands-on workshop out in the neighborhood!
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| • | Where: Open Streets on Newkirk Ave & 16th St
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| • | When: Sunday, July 12th and 26th | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
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Open Hours at the Garden
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Come visit, relax, or get your hands dirty!
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| • | When: Saturdays & Sundays | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
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| • | Volunteers are always welcome during these hours!
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July Garden Tips & To-Dos
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| • | Hydration is Key: With the July heat climbing, please remember to water deeply early in the morning or later in the evening to minimize evaporation. Pay extra attention to containers and raised beds, which dry out faster!
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| • | Harvest Frequently: Pick your kale, Swiss chard, herbs, and early cucumbers and peppers. Regular harvesting encourages the plants to keep producing more yields all summer long.
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| • | Pest Watch: Keep an eye out for summer pests. If you spot anything unusual on your plants, chat with a fellow gardener to work together to manage it organically
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July in Zone 7b (Brooklyn)is a unique month for gardening. While your summer crops are already soaking up the heat, July is the right time to plant quick-maturing summer successions and start prepping for a fall harvest.
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The best products, seeds, and crops to focus on in July can be broken down into three main categories:
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1. Direct Sow Outdoors (Quick Summer Successions)
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It is a gardening technique where fast – growing warm – season crops are planted in small batches every few weeks. Fast replanted as soon as an early crop is harvested. This provides a steady a manageable supply of fresh vegetables.
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If you have open spots in your raised beds or containers from harvested spring greens, you can sow these heat-tolerant seeds directly into the soil for a late-summer harvest:
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| • | Bush Beans: They mature quickly 60 days and will give you a heavy harvest before the fall.
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| • | Summer Squash & Zucchini: they will grow well in the hot summer.
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| • | Cucumbers: Direct sowing in early in July will yield a fresh, crisp crop by September.
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| • | Root Crops (Late July): Toward the end of the month, you can direct sow carrots and beets for the fall. Keep the soil damp all the time to keep the roots cool.
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Do you have an idea for a community project, a cultural workshop, or a way to make our garden more accessible? Reach out to any gardener during work hours or reply to this newsletter—your voice shapes this space!
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At Newkirk Community Garden We are committed to ensuring our garden remains an inclusive, welcoming, and vibrant space for neighbors of all backgrounds.
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The Newkirk Community Garden Team
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