As we move into August, we enter an exciting time in the garden. Our summer crops are (hopefully!) producing in abundance, and it’s a perfect time to get some new seeds or transplants in the ground to ensure late summer or fall harvests.
Prepare
No matter what you plan to plant this month, the first step will be clearing any crops that have died or begun to slow significantly in production. This purging will look different in every garden, but may include spring chard or kale, cut lettuces that are on a second or third harvest, and any vegetables or herbs that have bolted. This is also a great time to remove plants that have significant pest damage or are showing signs of soil-borne disease like bacterial wilt.
Once the areas have been cleared for planting, you may wish to top the soil with amendments, such as compost or organic fertilizer, to replenish any nutrients used up by the previous planting. These materials can be incorporated into the soil with a broadfork, rake, shovel, or by hand. If you do not plan to add any amendments, you may choose to plant straight into the earth without disrupting the soil at all – a practice that keeps microscopic soil structures intact.
