Seasonal gardening and allergy management tips for late summer

Seasonal gardening and health advice for late summer includes managing ragweed allergies and optimizing plant care. In Karlovac, high concentrations of ragweed pollen are expected from mid-August to mid-September, prompting health officials to advise allergy sufferers to use prescribed therapies, wear sunglasses, and shower after being outdoors.

For gardeners, several techniques can extend the harvest. Tomato plants can continue producing until late autumn if growers remove suckers and lower leaves to improve airflow and direct energy toward existing fruit. Similarly, peppers can be peeled more easily by steaming them in a closed container immediately after roasting.

Other seasonal tasks include pruning lavender after flowering to maintain shape and planting quick-growing crops like radishes, arugula, and spinach in August for an autumn harvest. Additionally, home preservation methods such as making homemade ketchup without additives or drying tomatoes in an oven are recommended to utilize the end of the tomato season.