It’s coming up on August! Time to sow those fall carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce, arugula, cilantro, spinach, and peas. It’s the perfect time to bring back the diversity of cooler season crops!
I’m starting the greens indoors cuz its HOT! BTW—did you know? Lettuce seed has a built-in thermal protector—yes, really! If it’s too hot outside, lettuce seed will just refuse to germinate. They’ll just SIT there, waiting for the right conditions. So… starting them indoors is your best bet! 🥬
Lettuce starts for fall harvests!
Here’s your August checklist:
- Prepare the Soil for Fall Planting
August is an ideal time to start preparing your garden beds for fall planting. Begin by clearing out any spent plants and adding a layer of organic compost to enrich the soil. This will provide essential nutrients to your fall crops. Lightly mix the compost into the soil to integrate it well.
- Start Your Fall Seedlings Indoors
If you haven't already, now is the time to start your fall crops like lettuces, kale, and spinach indoors. These fast-growing greens thrive in the cooler temperatures of fall and can be transplanted outside once they have established roots.
- Harvesting Summer Crops
August is usually the peak time for many summer crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, ground cherries (so yummy and so good for you) and herbs. Harvest them regularly to encourage continuous production. Don’t forget to check for overripe produce that can attract pests—remove and compost. Use a clean, sharp knife or pruners to minimize damage to the plants.
Ground cherries comin' on strong!
- Preserving and Storing
August is also peak season for preserving all of that abundance! Ferment, dehydrate, freeze dry, can, and freeze! Expand upon ‘the usual’! Dream and explore new ways to preserve and enjoy your harvest during the off-season! What new eating habits could you develop for the winter months to help you stay well-fed and well-nourished?
Shelling peas! Destination-- freezer!!
- Pest and Disease Management
Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids and caterpillars, as well as diseases such as powdery mildew—always a threat, since its everywhere; you're just not gonna get away from it. Regularly inspect the underside of leaves and remove any affected foliage to prevent the spread.
To keep powdery mildew tamped down in your garden, here’s some tips. Make sure your plants have space to breathe—if they’re over-grown and too crowded, do some preventative pruning here and there to make sure there's good airflow to promote quick drying after wet, heavy dews.
Throw down some organic mulch to lock in soil moisture without boosting humidity around your leafy friends. Organic treatments like neem oil or potassium bicarbonate can help too-- both as a preventative and a remedy. Keep an eye on your plants and cut off any leaves that start to show signs of mildew.
Is there a specific plant that's giving you trouble with powdery mildew?
Peas succumbing to powdery mildew after a bountiful harvest.
- Watering Wisely
As temperatures can still be quite high in August, make sure your garden is getting sufficient water. Watering in the morning is key to reduce evaporation and allow plants to absorb moisture throughout the day. Try to keep the leaves dry by aiming for the base of the plants. Consider using soaker hoses or drip irrigation to provide consistent moisture to your plants while conserving water.
- Weeding and Mulching
Maintain your garden beds by removing weeds that compete for nutrients-- and water! Apply a thick layer of organic mulch such as weed-free hay or straw, pesticide free grass clippings, or wood chips around your plants to suppress weed growth and help retain soil moisture. The mulch is like soil armor-- protecting the soil, earthworms, and microbial life under it! Mulching also adds organic matter back into the soil as it decomposes.
Deep hay mulch-- soil armor! Deep rich black garden soil under the mulch!
8. Taking Stock and Planning Ahead
August is a great time to reflect on what worked well in your garden this season, what you’re harvesting in abundance, what you’re short of, and what could be improved. If you haven’t already, make notes for next year's garden, including which plant varieties performed best, what you wanna make sure you repeat next year, any pest management strategies that were effective, any mistakes you made, and what you learned! 👏🏻 Your in-season observations are an invaluable learning tool for future gardening success and on-going progress.
Late July garden view
9. Prepare for the First Frost
It's also wise to make a note of the average first frost date for your region and plan your planting calendar with that in mind. In northern tier gardens, the first frost can arrive unexpectedly. Get those frost blankets or row covers ready by the end of August to protect vulnerable plants. Plan your season extension strategies ahead of time to ensure fresh harvests as long into fall and early winter as possible!
10. Plan for that indoor vermicompost bin
I really encourage you to take steps to make vermicomposting a winter endeavor this year. Download my free PDF Vermicomposting Guide on starting one of your very own! Go get those supplies and be ready!
What are you most excited to tackle in August, my Gardening Guru? Cheering you on!
Your garden coach,
Theresa