Growing in North Idaho: Maximize your harvest

Late summer finds the garden in full bloom with tomatoes, squash, beans, and other vegetables ripening. Here are a few tips to help you keep your garden healthy and thriving and make the most of your harvest. Keep your garden disease and pest free by keeping leaves and fruit off the ground. Consider pruning the lower leaves of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and cucumbers up to 6 to 18 inches depending on the size of the plant. You can also prune sucker stems which are unproductive and can take energy away from your fruit.