Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
IN AUGUST, the perennial garden winds down…and the veggie garden explodes. It’s time to pickle the cukes, sauce the tomatoes, and freeze the broccoli and beans. Then there are annuals to propagate, bulbs to order, and…anyone else need a valium? The essential chores for August:
Container Plantings. These will keep their looks until frost if you remove spent flowers regularly. Remember that container plants must be fed and watered daily — twice daily, in fact, during hot, dry spells.
Annuals. Take cuttings from impatiens, petunias, and wax begonias, and root them in pots of good soil. Brought indoors before frost, these colorful annuals will bloom all winter in a sunny window.
Bulbs. It’s the early gardener who gets the best tulips, hyacinths, narcissi and other spring bulbs. Order now to avoid disappointment. I obtain most of my bulbs from this source; for special, heirloom varieties, I shop here.
Compost. Fork over the pile, and soak it well with a slow-running hose. If you wish to contain, not pile, your garden debris, consider these inexpensive composting bins.
Daylilies. Following a heavy rain, divide and transplant big clumps.
Lawns. Let the weather, not the calendar, dictate your mowing routine. Do not mow at all during times of drought.
Perennials. If you are feeling energetic, sow next year’s crop of delphiniums, asters, hollyhocks and other perennials anytime now. Or, you can wait — as I do — and winter-sow these seeds during the less-harried months of January and February. In any event, consider planting something unusual, like the cocoa-scented Chocolate Flower.
Roses. Continue to deadhead; fertilize one last time for autumn bloom.
Vegetable Garden
Beans, Green. Continue to sow at 2-week intervals. How I freeze green beans for winter use.
Broccoli. Early this month, sow another crop for winter storage.
Brussels Sprouts. Stake tall plants that have fallen over. Begin to harvest the green, cabbage-like sprouts from the bottom of the stalk. Sprouts higher up will mature later.
Carrots. Sow now for winter use. Or, keep this last crop in the ground, as I do, and harvest during the first spring thaw.
Cucumbers. Turn the large ones into this refreshing Cucumber & Chive Soup. Use small cukes to make Super Easy Refrigerator Pickles.
Kale. Keep picking, and the plant will keep producing leaves until checked by frost. And have you tried my Crispy, Oven-Baked Kale Snackers? These are a healthy substitute to potato chips. How I freeze kale (and other leafy greens) for winter use.
Onions. Harvest when green tops fall over. How I harvest, cure and store onions..
Peas. Sow your storage-crop now.
Potatoes. Although you can harvest these anytime after vines die back, I always leave mine underground until October. Why? Because my cellar isn’t cool enough before then to store the crop. How I harvest and store potatoes.
Tomatoes. Trim excess foliage to promote exposure to sun. Use big, unripened fruit for Fried Green Tomatoes. Ripe fruit belongs in James Beard’s crowd-pleasing Classic Tomato Pie.
Zucchini. Too many to deal with? Check out these reader recipes and storage tips. And be sure to try this easy Zucchini-Jack Casserole.
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Related Posts:
My Guide to a Fantastic Fall Harvest
My Inexpensive, Wire-Mesh Composting System
Photo Gallery: A Walk in the Kitchen Garden
Welcome to My Herb Garden
Tomato-Growing Tips
Cary says
Kevin, do you have a source for garlic that you recommend? Thanks!
Wendy says
Just discovered your site recently and love it. Thanks for letting me know what I need to be doing in August. We got a late start on our veggie garden this year due to the Tornado that went straight through our town of Monson, MA. Our property was spared but our town suffered extensive damages. Our garden is coming along nicely now, but our lettuces were disappointedly bitter this year. How can I avoid this? Is it because of a late start? When can I start another crop for fall?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Cary – Like you, I'm searching for a good garlic-source. If you find one that sends you over the moon, please let me know!
I purchased both soft-neck and hard-neck garlic from Easy to Grow Bulbs (dot) com last fall. They do not offer a large selection of garlic bulbs. That said, their flower bulbs are spectacular.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Wendy – The weather is getting stranger every year, no? You were indeed lucky the tornado missed your property.
I suspect your lettuce was bitter because of the heat. High heat will cause lettuce to bolt, and secrete a bitter substance, even when the plants are quite young. My baby spinach transplants bolted just three weeks after they were planted out in June. Again, high heat was to blame.
In your region (which is similar to mine), you can plant a row lettuce every two weeks from August right through September. Locate the plants where they will receive afternoon shade. That is, so long as temperatures remain closer to 85 than 75.
Donna B. says
So many wonderful points given! I just wait for the temperatures outside to get cooler in the evening to do any storage-sowing…
I want to grow kale now. I want those chips! Those look delicious! Mmm…
The Japanese Redneck says
I'm pickled out right now. Made a ton of fig preserves and relishes.
Then the Dr. tells me on Friday, to cut out sugar….I'll just have to cheat.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Donna B. – Those kale chips are indeed delicious and soooo easy.
The Japanese Redneck – Fig preserves — yum! But does this count as sugar?
Broken Barn Industries says
Your list makes me glad AND jealous- glad that I don't grow many veggies and so can cross all those chores off my August list, jealous because you're going to be eating way better than I am come winter! Better go check my only delph for seeds…
Anonymous says
My tomatoes have curly top. Anything I can do? Or should they be cut down? SAD!
-Ainé
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Aine – Sad, indeed! Apparently there is no cure for this virus which occurs, more often than not, in arid locations. Consequently you'll need to remove the plants. I can only imagine how distraught you must be!