During the summer months, the number of vegetables you can successfully grow in your garden become limited by the heat and humidity. Some plants such as sweet potatoes, southern peas, cherry tomatoes and okra can grow well and some spring crops like peppers and eggplant may keep producing. As long as plants are healthy, there is no need to remove them.

However, it can be a great idea to help manage nematodes, weeds and other harmful pests using the sun to solarize your soil.

Soil solarization is a technique where a sheet of plastic covers the soil surface, allowing the soil to reach temperatures high enough to kill many pests and weeds. This is especially effective against nematodes, which are tiny worms that feed on the roots of your plants. It works best in the months of June, July and August, when temperatures and humidity are at their peak.

The downside to soil sterilization is that it can also be lethal to beneficial organisms but they will return much more quickly than the harmful, targeted pests.

If you decide soil solarization is something you would like to try this summer it is important to understand how the process works. A sheet of clear plastic is laid on the soil surface for 6-8 weeks, allowing sunlight to pass through, raising soil temperatures and keeping that heat in the planting bed. When done effectively, soil solarization can reduce pest populations for three to four months, and in some cases even longer.

This process can be achieved in almost every soil and garden type, whether on flat ground or in raised beds but works best in full sun.

To prepare the site for solarization, clear any weeds or debris from the area and add in any soil amendments that you have planned. You can till the top six inches of the soil if you would like, as this does increase the heat penetration but it is not necessary. In the end, the soil should be raked smooth and be peaked in the middle so that rainwater is able to run off of the plastic.

Moist soil does work best for this process so if you can, apply the plastic the day after a rain or irrigation. Solarization does not work as well on dry or very wet soils. The mud from the wet soils clouds the clear plastic and does not allow sunlight through.

When ready, the plastic sheet can be purchased and applied. The sheet should be at a minimum 1.5 millimeters thick to prevent tearing and should be a little larger than the area you are treating. You should then spread the plastic over the area tightly and seal the edges by burying them in the soil.

If you see weeds growing under the plastic, the process is not working properly and if you find any holes, a small piece of duct tape can seal the area and not block enough sun to affect the solarization process.

If successful you should see lower weed and soil pests for three to four months, long enough for your fall garden.

Want someone to answer a specific plant question for you? Go online to http://clay.ifas.ufl.edu and under the heading “Horticulture” (left hand side of page) left click on “Ask a Master Gardener” and a reply will be sent plus a hyperlink to the appropriate University of Florida Fact Sheets. Please send us a digital picture of the problem. To read past articles that might help you with seasonal problems and to learn about upcoming Extension Programming in our area go to our website at UF/IFAS Clay County Extension.