Is it too late to plant something in mid-summer?
Many people believe that because of the heat we experience in the summer there is nothing to plant in August. Nothing could be further from the truth! The garden in August is at its best! Plants fully developed, and with maximum productivity. As for the challenges we face during the summer period, there are several: The heat is pressing and it will be a big problem for our plants in the garden. In the case of tomatoes, it is normal to see rolled leaves and burns on the fruits. In the case of peppers, it is normal for the flowers to fall off. In addition, pests love this hot season, and can be a major problem. On the other hand, mushrooms are also frequent this season.
Can something be sown in August? Definitely yes! In fact, this month is key to being able to continue the garden in the fall. Only one piece of advice, although important: protect your seedlings from direct sun or they will burn as soon as you leave. You can dedicate a shaded area under your tomato plants or cucumbers. The shade of vegetation is always the best, because it also provides that humidity that young plants are so grateful for.
Let's check around how many days we have left before the season changes? Consider your weather, check local forecast temperatures, and determine how much time you have before the current season changes. Here in Alabama, we are in the warm season and I don't expect the temperature to change much until the end of October, when we normally have a big change to cooler weather. That gives me all of August, September and part of October so I have about 75 days. So you just have to do the math for where you live.
What to plant in August in the garden? here is a small list with some ideas:
Cabbage.
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Turnip
Bean
Parsley
Carrot
Corn
But beware, planting and transplanting in hot weather require special care.
Make it stand out
Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you develop your kitchen garden do it with joy, enjoy every moment in contact with nature.
We must bear in mind that in this hot season we must protect the seedlings from the inclement rays of the sun.
For that I recommend:
.- Apply padding: Apply a layer of leaves, straw or compost on top of the soil to slow down evaporation. By the way, you will keep the temperature of the floor cooler, since the incidence of the sun's rays on the floor is less. .- Water in cool hours: The best time to water is after 8 pm, when the hours of direct sunlight have passed, to prevent much of the water from evaporating.
.- Harvest the fruits as soon as they are ready: Many crops tend to produce more the more you harvest and decrease their production if we leave the fruits on the plant for more days.
.- Support crops that require it: such as beans, tomatoes or cucumbers, to prevent them from taking up too much space and to prevent them from breaking. Remove "suckers" from tomato plants and peppers so they continue to develop.
.- Watch for pests: A timely treatment is much more effective, so reviewing the state of the orchard from time to time will help you detect them in time.
