What To Sow And Plant In August? Late Summer Sowing Of Greens, Herbs, Vegetables. Photo

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 07:13

In August, the nights get longer and colder, and the long-awaited season for the main harvest begins. At the same time, it's time to think about the "second wave" and use the opportunity to re-sow your favorite greens and vegetables. And although perennials and bulbous plants, which also lined up for planting, require attention this month, there is also something to sow in the garden in the free space. Siderata, favorite early ripening vegetables and unexpected late delicacies - if you wish, there will be candidates for the August sowing.

Content:

• Features of preparation for the August crops
• Fast growing greens
• Second harvest of vegetables
• The August novices of the ornamental garden
• Strawberries and berries
• August siderates
• Care for late summer crops

Features of preparation for the August crops

In August, sowing and planting are not always carried out in pre-prepared places. The beds that are vacated after the harvest and the replanning of flower beds open up new opportunities to fill the empty spaces with both useful and ornamental plants. For those who have a greenhouse at their disposal, re-crops are more likely the norm. Late harvests of even the most capricious cucumbers and broccoli in protected soil are easier to obtain.

But even outdoors, you can safely sow herbs and vegetables again, and start planting flowers. To do this, you just need to remember that the weather can unpleasantly surprise even in September and pick up plants that are guaranteed to have time to yield or take root (before winter). And it is sensible to assess your strength: spending time and money on repeated crops is only worth it if careful care is not a problem.

Preparing for late summer crops is not so difficult. There are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Take care of the soil, not only thoroughly loosening it, clearing it of weeds and debris, but also achieving a high-quality restoration of air permeability. The best soil remediation strategy before late sowing in August is to apply mature organic fertilizers and biologics. If the weather is dry, the bed is watered abundantly, allowing the top layer to dry out before sowing, but ensuring sufficient stable moisture in the deep layers.
• Process the seeds by soaking them in growth stimulants.
• Prepare mulch in order to create the most favorable conditions for crops. You can cover them before germination and non-woven materials. A stock of covering materials in case of early cold weather should also be ready by September.

The choice of herbs and vegetables that can be sown in the garden in August is not small at all. One thing unites different species - the requirement to choose early, ultra-early ripening and early maturing varieties. You need to choose plants that need the shortest time to achieve technical maturity.

Fast growing greens

August is a favorite month for everyone who does not want to be content with just one harvest of their favorite herbs. If sowing is done on time, you can provide constant vitamin supplements to the menu until the arrival of winter. It is advisable to sow greens in the first half of August, but if large volumes are not needed, then sowing can be carried out until September.

Throughout August (for fans of observing the lunar cycles - on a favorable growing moon), you can sow dill and parsley on the beds. And add to their company:

• chervil;
• fennel for greens;
• basil;
• coriander;
• arugula;
• spinach;
• lettuce (but not cabbage lettuce);
• watercress;
• mustard;
• sorrel;
• chard;
• cucumber grass.

If there is an opportunity to water the beds, or if the weather is favorable, you can start sowing seeds (especially freshly harvested ones) of all perennial herbs - mint, lemon balm, sage, etc., which will have time to grow up by winter.

Second harvest of vegetables

While the harvest time is just beginning for the majority of vegetable plants in the beds, the “beginners” will happily master the vacated areas. Crops that, thanks to early maturity, will have time to please with fruits and leaves before winter arrives, it is safer to sow in the first, at least, in the second decade of August. At least, this way there is less risk of unexpected frost surprises that can prevent you from enjoying a fresh harvest. But if August is extremely dry, and watering opportunities are limited, it is better to postpone crops than to lose seedlings.

In August, you can sow almost all types of "fast" vegetables:

• collard greens - kale, pakchay, Peking cabbage, enjoying young tender leaves without bitterness until the very frost (sowing is best completed before August 10);
• onions for herbs (all month, from batun and leek to chives, slime, perennial onions);
• radish and its "colleagues" of all early varieties, including daikon and forehead (it is better to sow in the first half of August);
• high-quality onion seeds for harvesting in 2 years (at the end of the month);
• early varieties of beets and carrots - for tops and elegant mini-fruits (the earlier, the better the result);
• peas - for greens and young pods (first half of the month);
• early varieties of asparagus beans (before August 15);
• forty-day potatoes.

If you took care of the seedlings in advance, it's time to transfer kohlrabi to a permanent place (first decade of August). If possible, even white cabbage and cauliflower are planted in August (before August 10, but preferably at the very beginning of the month).

At the end of August, you can start replanting, dividing and planting rhubarb, asparagus, horseradish, wild garlic and other perennial vegetables. When sowing any vegetables, it is imperative to observe the crop rotation with the previous plants.

The August novices of the ornamental garden

Sowing seeds of ornamental plants in August is a dubious experiment. It is better to postpone all crops until late autumn - before winter. But the main landing is resumed in August:

• planting of bulbs starts from the early blooming and "smaller" species from the middle of the month for the middle lane (August is preferable for scillas, crocuses, muscari, spring plants, daffodils, crocuses, chionodox, lilies);
• from the second decade, they begin to transfer seedlings of biennial plants - violets, daisies, mallow, foxglove to permanent places;
• when the weather is favorable, new plants are planted and old bushes are separated from irises, peonies, phloxes, primroses, daylilies, bathers, lumbago and other perennials;
• begin planting roses, lilacs, conifers and other ornamental shrubs;
• new varieties of vines are planted, including fruit (grapes and honeysuckle).

It is better not to rush to plant trees and large bushes. If there is time, then it is better to devote it to the preparation of the planting holes already for the September or October planting.

Strawberries and berries

Favorite garden strawberries in August require special attention. On the beds it is worth "to shine" by completing the pruning of late varieties. And use the unique opportunity to transplant plants into new beds, plant a mustache and rejuvenate the collection. It is the August planting that is one of the most reliable options for new varieties and new methods of growing, because the plants will have time to root well by the first frost and prepare for winter, and next year they will please with an impressive harvest.

Currants, yoshta, gooseberries, and other berry bushes also need attention. In August you can:

• plant new varieties;
• to cut plants.

And it is better not to forget to have time to pinch the tops before the end of the month to improve the ripening of the shoots.

August siderates

It is still far from sowing green manure before winter, but it is from this month that they begin to be used to improve the soil. Before the arrival of cold weather, the siderates will have time to grow up well, allowing you to prepare the beds in advance for sowing next spring.

During the last month of summer, siderates can be filled in any free areas of soil - both the beds left after harvesting, and flower beds from the summer gardens, and new cleared areas, where they do not plan to plant or want to carry out major work later. Until the time comes for autumn planting or winter sowing, green manure will have time to complete their tasks and help restore the soil. Cruciferous plants - mustard, rapeseed, oil radish, as well as peas, oats and phacelia - give excellent results in August.

Care for late summer crops

Whatever plants you sow and planted in August, you should strictly observe agricultural technology for each species. Crops should not be thickened, and it is better not to postpone thinning, because on the eve of autumn every day counts. On the beds, you need to try not to compact the soil too much, carefully covering the seeds.

In a vegetable garden and an ornamental garden, young plants need to be protected from heat and the soil should be kept loose. Without mulch, you will have to manually deal with crusting, weeds and soil compaction. The exception is bulbous, which you can "forget" about.

Watering is a general requirement for crops and plantings done in August. If there is a drought at the end of summer, without support, the plants will not be able to take root normally and start growing. Watering should be of high quality: deep, but not frequent, remains a much safer option than superficial.