You still have ample time to grow fresh greens that will produce through late fall! Cole crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, spinach, and lettuce are just a few delicious options you have to stay on your garden grind through fall. If you need extra space for your fall crops, it may be time to clear out some of those early season crops that have wilted. In this case, you may need to fertilize or amend the soil, as your early season crops may have depleted the soil of nutrients.
Sow many options!
You can direct-sow a variety of seeds in your garden during August, such as arugula, beets, peas, carrots, and radishes just to name a few! Some crops fair better if they are transplanted, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and leeks. The key to producing healthy seedlings is maintaining the proper light and moisture levels. Organic gardener Doug Oster recommends container planting in a nice shady area for more controlled germination. Fill your container with moist substrate, add your seeds, then top it off with a thin layer of soil. Cover the container with a clear plastic film until they sprout, then remove the covering. Keep them watered until they’re big enough to transplant into your garden, and you’ll be good to grow! As your garden starts to take off, be sure to keep up with harvesting, as failure to do so may slow production!
Be a Vigilant Veggie Gardener
With the heat and humidity of August, diseases and pests can plague your plants if you aren’t cautious. Prune the areas of any plant infected by mildew, blight, or canker to avoid spreading disease to the rest of the garden, then dispose of the cuttings properly. Sanitizing your pruners between each plant will also ensure that the rest of your garden stays healthy.
Controlling pests, avoiding overwatering, and maintaining nutritional requirements are a few ways to build your garden’s immunity. Luckily, there are plenty of organic pest control methods to get rid of slugs, aphids, mites, and more. A great product Doug recommends is Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew, which affects chewing insects like beetles, thrips, bagworms, caterpillars, loopers, and other hungry pests. The active ingredient in this product is a naturally occurring bacteria, Spinosad, that renders chewing pests unable to feed by attacking their nervous system. For more information on how to tackle infestations and keep your garden pest-free, checkout Doug’s tips on organic pest control!
Enjoy the transition into fall planting, and happy harvesting!
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