Earwigs can be a big pest, inside and outside. They will chew on plants and are one of my least favorite insects. I did some research after one of our visitors wanted a way to keep them out of chives. Dried bay leaves are one deterrent-sprinkle them around the pots/plants where you are having problems. The newspaper trap is a commonly used way of getting rid of them. Roll up newspapers and place around the areas you've been seeing earwigs, and each morning carefully place the rolls in a garbage bag. Tie it very tightly and dispose of it in your garbage bin. Another tricky method to keep them out of large blooms where they hide, like dahlias, is to gently rub petroleum jelly on the stems, which keeps them from climbing. The number one thing you can do is keep your garden, porch and any other outside areas free of debris. Earwigs like dark areas to hide in during the day.

Even in the north you can still sow seeds of vegetables that will have time to grow, such as beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, radishes, and greens. You'll want to look for vegetables, herbs, flowers etc that will mature in 60 days or less. Keep the seeds watered well as per the instructions on the seed packets. It's especially important when the days are hot and windy.

From the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office: *Cutting flowers is best done with sharp shears or a knife which will help avoid injury to the growing plant. A slanting cut will expose a larger absorbing surface to water and will prevent the base of the stem from resting on the bottom of the vase. It is best to carry a bucket of water to the garden for collecting flowers, rather than a cutting basket.

From americanplantfood.com: If your tomatoes develop a rotten spot on the bottom, discard the affected tomatoes so your plant won't waste energy trying to ripen them. This problem, called blossom end rot, is the result of a calcium deficiency that's usually caused by uneven watering. Scratch a little lime into the soil around the plants and try to water deeply once a week if we don't get at least an inch of rain.

MORE: Harvesting and using cucumbers!
http://www.oldfashionedliving.com/cucumbers2.html
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