Garden in August: Month of Harvest, Sowing, Care, and Work
Garden in August: Month of Harvest, Sowing, Care, and Work
August is the month of intensive harvesting of ripe fruits, but also a month when we must not neglect watering, hoeing, and caring for plants. Additionally, many vegetables can still be sown. Flowers and ornamental shrubs should continue to be nurtured, and this is an ideal time for collecting vegetable and flower seeds for the next year.
As the days become shorter, it becomes evident that August is coming – the month of abundance in the garden. It’s time to focus more on harvesting than working, although there is always work to be done in the garden. According to forecasts, a dry period might be expected, so plants will require additional watering.
Watering and Protecting Plants from Diseases and Pests
Garden work can be disrupted by summer showers, thunderstorms, and even storms that often bring hail and potential damage to plants. Increased air humidity can cause fungal diseases like gray mold, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Therefore, it is important to protect plants in time. Pests are also active – for example, the Colorado potato beetle can move from potatoes to peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes, so be vigilant.
If the soil is dry, water the plants, but be careful not to do it over the leaves and fruits to avoid creating ideal conditions for diseases. It is best to water plants at the base, around the roots, and to preserve moisture, you can mulch the soil with straw, hay, sawdust, or similar materials. Weekly deep watering is recommended instead of daily, shallow watering.
Neem Oil and Neem Cake: Natural Plant Protection and Nutrition
For additional protection against pests and diseases, you can use neem oil, a natural insecticide that helps control insects like aphids, Colorado potato beetles, stink bugs, and other pests. Neem oil is applied by spraying plants, preferably in the early morning or late evening hours, to avoid plant damage in the sun. Regular use can significantly reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
Neem cake, a byproduct obtained after oil extraction from seeds, is an excellent natural fertilizer and soil improver. It can be used during soil preparation or as an addition to existing plants. It is rich in nutrients and helps repel soil pests such as nematodes. You can apply it before sowing new plants or as a fertilizer during the growing season.
Time to Harvest Delicious Fruits
August is the month when we can enjoy the harvest of green beans, snap beans, zucchini, cruciferous vegetables, cucumbers, and peppers. Tomatoes are also ripening, so it's time to cook sauces and various dressings that will serve us in preparing dishes in the coming months. Eggplants, melons, watermelons, and sweet corn are also ripening, whose taste brings us back to childhood.
This is also the time to collect seeds from various vegetables to be secured for the next year.
What to Sow and Plant in August?
In the second half of August, when temperatures start to drop, and there are more rainy days, we can plan late summer sowing of plants that will withstand autumn rains and coolness. This is an ideal time to sow leafy vegetables like radicchio, lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard. Additionally, parsley, carrots, endive, onions, corn salad, and leeks can be sown. Now is also the time for planting cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower.
Caring for Flowers and Ornamental Shrubs
In the ornamental part of the garden, continue removing faded flowers from ornamental shrubs, annuals, perennials, and other flowers to prolong blooming. Regularly fertilize and water them, and weed flower beds to prevent weed seeding. August is also an ideal time for propagating evergreen ornamental shrubs with cuttings.
Gathering Herbs and Lawn Care
Gathering herbs in August allows you to have them at hand throughout autumn and winter, either in jars or pots. At the end of the month, it is recommended to fertilize the lawn to encourage growth and thickening of grass in autumn and winter. You can also sow a new lawn.
