Wow! It’s August already, and most of us can’t decide if we are excited or discouraged or tired of our gardens. With all of that rain followed by dry sunny days, mix in vacations and busy summer schedules and feeling like, "What the heck should I be doing out here?"
July and August are tough any year. All that spring energy we had starts to wane, the weeds start to grow and the bunnies are still hungry. So what can we do to help make sure we get a decent harvest?
Water wisely. Water deeply and less often rather than every day and shallow. Most of your veggies and flowers have already developed deep roots so you want the water to reach down into the earth.
Succession plant. Pulled your garlic? Plant beans because we still have time to get a good crop. Or peas. Or carrots, beets, radishes and lettuce. Read your seed packets for growing information. They should give you the "days to maturity." We still have a couple of months to go before our average first frost date.
If you are growing annual flowers, deadhead them and many will continue to bloom into the fall.
Protect your investment. Bunnies got after my Swiss chard so I will be putting a fence around them tomorrow.
Manage diseases. We all get them and we all share them.
If you have potatoes, pick off those potato beetles and drop them in some soapy water.
If you are growing brassicas (broccoli, cabbage etc): net them to protect them from mites.
Monitor for squash bugs and squash vine borers.
Tomato leaves yellowing and curling? Remove the lower leaves as they yellow. Water at the base of the plants rather than overhead and water consistently to avoid blossom end rot. Here's more information on growing tomatoes.
Do you have a strawberry patch? Now is the time to renovate it.
Weed your garden. Get after those weeds that have loved the abundance of rain. They are much easier to control before they go to seed. If you let them go to seed, remember that you are sharing those weed seeds with your neighbors. Cover your walking areas with a fresh layer of straw.
Feed your garden. Now is a good time to give your plants a good feeding with a plant food formulated for vegetables and flowers. Aim for a ratio on the package like 3-6-4. Those numbers are N-P-K or nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. They supply nutrients to leaves, fruit (or flowers), and roots. Organic fertilizers supply slow-release nitrogen which is good for your greens. We’re not working towards a fast, full flush of green. I know we are all anxious to get those ripe tomatoes and peppers but it will be a while yet for the big ones. Remember, you still have time.
Enjoy your garden. Tending your garden tends your soul. Enjoy yourself out there. Take time to look around, smell the dill, and take in the greenery. It’s good for us.