Gardening Tips
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August is typically associated with the end of summer and the approaching harvest season . But we firmly conceive that August is in reality the perfect month to sneak in one last round of planting before first frost sets in and the cold weather get in for proficient .
Below , we ’ve curated our August planting option for each of the USDA ’s Plant Hardiness zones . ( If you ’re not sure what zona you live in , type in your zip codification here . ) We ’ve omitted zone 1 , 2 , and 11 - 13 , as most of the United States population dwell in Zones 3 through 10 .
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Zone 3
Gardeners in Zone 3 ( which covers the central parts of the border with Canada ) should implant a last round of drinks of Spinacia oleracea ( Spinacia oleracea ) before winter sets in for goodness . Though its legal tender green leave-taking may seem ticklish , spinach is a surprisingly tough plant in cold weather ( it can hold out temperatures as low-spirited as 20ºF if well - established ) and the leaves pack a slug when it come in to food .
Plant spinach at least one infantry apart , so that there ’s space for it to fill out . plant life is rich , well - drain soil . Spinach seeds wo n’t spud if the soil is too wry , so ensure – particularly at the outset – that your soil persist dampish . A spot with swooning nicety is upright for Spinacia oleracea ; take aim for three to four hours of Dominicus a sidereal day . If your leaves are turning yellowed , it may be a deficiency of N in the soil , so try addinga scattering of coffee groundsaround the base of the plant .
Zone 4
Located through the northerly Rockies and in the far Northeast ( conceive : the weather in Minneapolis ) , Zone 4 should institute mâche ( Valerianella locusta ) , a type of stout gelt first cultivated in seventeenth century France . flora as August temperatures commence to cool off off ( high LX is ideal ) and do n’t be relate by mâche ’s dull germination period of time ( typically 10 - 14 day ) , as mâche prefers a temperature range around 40º to 70º F.
Sow seeds 1 ” apart in moist land and mulch thoroughly to protect from heat and weeds . find fault a spotlight with some sun in the morning and subtlety in the afternoon ( avoid any form of intensely blistering weather with mâche ) . Snails and slugs are the biggest challenge to growing mâche ; hollowed - out citrus peels proffer some relief by warding off snails and lick . ( Just be sure to order a few rind strategically around where you are grow the mâche . )
Zone 5
For those in Zone 5 ( which represents the coolheaded contribution of the Northeast like Albany , and load in a band from Chicago to Denver ) , beets ( Beta vulgaris ) are an ideal veggie to imbed in August . Though they are native to the mild Mediterranean , beets have long been recognized as a frigid - weather vegetable ( they are , after all , the critical element in borscht ) .
works seeds in well drained with 3 ” to 5 ” of outer space between , in a stain with full Sunday . As they rise , beets require plenty of phosphorus ; you may need to invest in phosphate rock-and-roll if your soil is inferior . get spring , if the problem persists , try planting atomic number 15 - pay back alfalfa . Fungus is often the handsome setback to Beta vulgaris so ( to emphasize again ! ) verify your soil stays well drain and is n’t inhuman and damp .
Zone 6
For gardeners situate in Zone 6 ( which cross several zones from Philadelphia all the way out to piece of the West ) , broccoli ( Brassica oleracea ) offers a greenish transition into fall . Broccoli is a inhuman weather craw – but too cold and the broccoli wo n’t not rise properly , which is why August ( with the passion begin to wane ) is the ideal clip to get started . ( You might even try implant Romanesco ! )
plant life broccoli 16 ” apart in rich soil where the plants will get full Lord’s Day . Water soundly so the plants are always maintain moist . you may also mulch to help cool the ground down and retain moisture ( plus , of course , mulch has the bonus of tamping down on pot ) . aphid are the most frequent broccoli threat , but a solution of neem oil ( mix 1 tsp with ½ tsp max and 1 litre water ) can be an effective check .
Zone 7
geographical zone 7 – come to to the Ohio Valley and the inland areas of the West – is still quite red-hot in August but you’re able to extort a immediate planting of carrot ( Daucus carota subspecies sativus ) outdoors to glean in the fall . As with other etymon crop , carrots should be situated in loose , neutral pH soil with plenty of room to develop downward . Be certain your carrot get at least 1 ” of piddle a week – either from rain or by hand – and that the weewee soundly saturates the soil . Carrot root fly sheet ( the most common carrot pest ) tend to lay their egg in August ( if you’re able to hold up planting in September this aid ) . To keep them from reaching you crops , use a fleece rag to cover up the carrot and border territory . ( And remember : you may eat cultivated carrot greens ! )
Zone 8
Encompassing the upper character of the South and coastal regions in the Pacific North West , Zone 8 should prepare a planting of yellow summer squash rackets ( Cucurbita pepo ) during the abbreviated window of opportunity in August . We specially like chicken summertime squash because it tends to produce a lot compared to other varieties of summertime squash . dirt for jaundiced summer squash should be well drained and seedling should be spaced 4 ” to 6 ” apart .
site the industrial plant in a part of the garden with full sun , but endeavor to wait for a cloudy day to transplant seedlings , as quick rough sun can cause them to wilt . Be trusted your summertime squeeze acquire at least an inch of piss , once a workweek , and that this water sets in cryptical to the soil . To avoid any of the coarse vine disease summertime squash rackets is often chivvy by , inquire at your local nursery for immune cultivar or reckon for resistant seeds online .
Zone 9
For August , Zone 9 ( California and the South ) can start out their fall cherry tree tomatoes ( Solanum lycopersicum var . cerasiforme ) indoors and move them outside as the month progresses and cool down somewhat . It ’s a poor window of meter for cherry tomatoes , which are often thought of as being planted in the spring and harvested during the summer , but they do well in Zone 9 ’s still - lovesome temperatures of late summertime and former fall . ( We love the Super Sweet 100 cherry tomato . )
When preparing dirt , make certain it is rich and well drained , and space seeds or seedling at least a foundation apart . cerise tomatoes a minimum six hour of sun , so be certain to target them in a smear that receives full Dominicus . Since the industrial plant are in full sunshine , also be sure to water every few years to ensure the soil continue damp . Squirrels and other small garden animate being ( even shuttle ) often snack on cherry tomatoes , so try draping your plant with clear to keep them at true laurel .
Zone 10
In Zone 10 ( the hotter parts of Southern California and the tip of Florida ) at this time of year , it is predominantly a time for harvesting . However , Zone 10 gardeners can start planting their garlic ( Allium sativum ) , and can continue to establish garlic through the winter month . Garlic is a comparatively tolerant plant life and can be implant in unlike soil types , but is most successful in full-bodied , well drained soil . Give garlic a wide berth when planting in your garden ; you should design to give 6 ” to 8 ” between cloves and to leave way below ( about a foot ) .
Cloves should be set a little less than half a foot below the soil level , in full Lord’s Day , and the ground should be kept damp ( plan to irrigate every few days , a minuscule more than once a calendar week ) . Since Allium sativum is a natural pest repellant , it can pretty much take concern of itself . The most common emergence with garlic is white rot , a fungus that last in the soil . While there ’s not much that can be done for plants plagued by white rot , rotating plants through your garden can avail minimize its occurrence.
