In the Vegetable Garden – August 2019

by Patty Leander
photos by Bruce Leander

August is what it is—hot and dry. Hard on plants and hard on gardeners. But it’s also time to get in gear for the fall season. Just like in spring, if we wait until the weather is just right, we will be behind. In spring we are rushing to beat the heat and in fall we are rushing to beat the cold. Hard to believe, I know, but we will be pulling out sweaters and jackets sometime before Thanksgiving arrives. Until that frosty weather arrives, we have an opportunity to plant another round of quick-growing, warm weather crops including cucumbers, summer squash and snap beans. Easy to grow from seed, most varieties of these yummy vegetables mature in 60 days or less, though in the shorter days of fall they may grow a little slower. If planted in late August they should be producing by early November, with a continual harvest until that first cold snap (usually late November or early December). Getting seeds started during the heat of summer can be difficult but providing seedlings with partial shade and consistent moisture will help plants get established.

Here is the vegetable gardener’s checklist for August:

• Remove any spent or diseased plants in preparation for fall planting.
• Plant your favorite varieties of green beans, cucumbers and squash later this month. It’s best to stick with varieties that produce in 60 days or less. This information should be on the seed packet or catalog description.
• Thin plants to the proper spacing once they are up and growing; crowded plants rarely reach their production potential.
• Plant seeds for brassicas, Swiss chard and other fall vegetables in small pots indoors under grow lights or outside in a bright shady spot. Seedlings will be transplant size in about 6 weeks. Extend your harvest by planting a few seeds a week or so apart so that plants will mature at different times.
• Mulch well to inhibit weed germination and conserve precious moisture.
• Fruiting crops like okra, pumpkins, eggplant and Southern peas need a dependable supply of moisture, especially during flowering and fruit enlargement in order to develop properly.
• Inspect the garden on a regular basis, keeping an eye out for damaging pests.
• Keep your peppers and eggplant growing strong with a regular supply of moisture and a dose of water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks; they love fall weather and will produce right up until frost.
• Harvest herbs for use in the kitchen. Prune lightly to encourage new growth.
• Use the down time in early August to take care of miscellaneous garden chores.
• Stay hydrated when working outside and take advantage of slightly cooler morning and evening temperatures.