I can hardly believe it is the beginning of August! Most people believe that because it is so hot outside, you can't plant anything, but this is not true. Right now is the time to plant cool season crops. You can plant the following in August:
Snap Beans
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Carrots
Collards
Chard
Kale
Early Peas
Spinach
Turnips
In fact, I am getting ready to pull up some of my tomatoes that have finished producing, and I'll put in my Collard Greens. This way they will be ready for New Years Day cooking!
Most people are tempted to get out in the yard every day and water. But tomatoes aren't happy if they get too much water. How do you know when to water? The secret to watering for successful tomatoes: Always check the soil FIRST! Stick your finger in to the soil by the roots of your plant. If you feel any moisture, don't water! Wait until your finger comes up dry, then you can give your plant a good soaking!
Another secret to growing tomatoes, plant basil next to them. Keeps insects from getting on your tomatoes. Insects don't like the strong smell of the basil.
I've already enjoyed a few tomato sandwiches! The first tomato was a Better Boy, next to come in are the Romas!
Just harvested some Yukon Gold potatoes and already ate them for dinner! They were great!
The weather has been beautiful here in Georgia, so beautiful that I've already planted alot of my vegetables. What's on tap for this year??
I have tomatoes that include Roma, Rutgers, Better Boy, Early Girl, and Brandywine (that's a new one for me)
Okra, from seed.
Potatoes
Onions (can't get enough of those)
Basil (keeps the bugs off the tomatoes)
Purple Climbing Beans and some Green Beans too
and...Lettuce.
Still to come...
Squash
Cucumbers
and Peppers
Pay attention to the frost date in your area. Even though I planted early, we still might get a late freeze here. Frost date in this area of Georgia is April 15th.
Remember...
Life's A Garden, Dig It!!
It's February and here in Georgia we can feel spring in the air!
Time to get out there and take care of a few things...
- Lawns- Fertilize Fescue Lawns .apply a pre-emergent herbicide to control summer annual weeds late in the month as the weather gets above freezing. If it's still cold, wait till March.
- Trees and Shrubs - Prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom. This is a good time of the year for planting trees and shrubs.
- Flowers - Fertilize as the weather warms your Pansies, Dianthus and other winter bloomers
- Plant bare-root Roses and prune existing ones.
- Fruits and Vegetables - Prune fruit trees
- Start seeds of peppers, broccoli and cauliflower this month.
- Chores- Pick up the rest of those leaves and start getting those new garden beds ready.
- Work on those hardscape elements, repair the fence, screw down those deck boards, put a bench in the garden or around a tree and someone please feed the birds
- Forsythia and Jasmine sprays can still be cut and brought into the house now for forcing
Life's A Garden, Dig It!!
