August Is Excellent for Planting Seeds
August’s opportunities in the garden are not like those of spring or fall, but it is surprising how much one can find to do.
The greatest opportunity is the planting of seeds. If this seems like an unlikely time, consider that most seeds need warm soil to germinate--and the soil is not going to get any warmer.
Before you say, “But I never have any luck growing things from seed,” give it a try now. It’s a tiny investment, so even if it doesn’t work out, there is little to lose. You can grow all sorts of things that are a little out of the ordinary--special varieties of common flowers, uncommon flowers, special varieties of vegetables or uncommon vegetables, such as the many Oriental greens and roots that grow only during the cool time of the year; seeds for these are often found at Oriental groceries.
With the exception of sweet peas and a few vegetables, most seed sown in August should be started in small pots or packs, so they can be kept out of the intense midday sun. Find a spot that has dappled sunlight or gets sun only in the morning or late afternoon, but is otherwise bright.
Because potting soil dries out so quickly, you might want to mix it half-and-half with ordinary garden soil so you don’t have to water twice a day.
For seeds to germinate, they must be warm and moist, so never let the soil dry out. Don’t keep it soggy either, but with seeds it’s more important that they stay wet. Once they germinate, back off on the watering right away or you will encourage rot and other diseases that attack the tiny seedlings.
If you plant now, seeds should be sprouted and up in a few weeks. They will then be large enough to plant in the garden by mid-September, or early October at the latest--perfect timing, because that is the beginning of the fall planting season.
What can you sow now? Any of the winter vegetables, from broccoli to turnips; any of the spring flowering annuals, from calendulas to Iceland poppies, and any perennial, shrub or tree that would normally be planted in the fall, which is just about all of them.
Sweet peas have been planted in August since at least the turn of the century, and it is still the best time because they flower at the coolest time of the year if planted now. Spare no effort preparing the soil, because they like a rich soil full of fertilizer and organic matter.
Some of winter’s vegetables, especially those--like cabbage--that take a long time to mature, also can be sown directly in the ground.
Coastal gardeners can even plant summer flowers (and vegetables) from nursery containers at this time of the year. In fact, this is the time to take advantage of all that color already in flower for fast effect. Sure it’s late, but they will bloom (or produce) right into fall, probably into November.
One of my beds of perennials pooped out this past week, so, taking advantage of these long evenings, I pulled it all out and replanted it with summer stalwarts.
Nurseries are surprisingly full of flowers right now, and I found nice quart pots and gallon cans of Gloriosa daisies, packs of marigolds and Dahlberg daisies, white nicotiana and white feverfew. When they finish up in the fall, I’ll try again with the perennials or plant spring flowers, but in the meantime, I have a front full of flowers again.
Like the seeds, new plants must be kept constantly moist for a few weeks. The best way is with a watering wand, one of those long tubes with a diffuser on the end that breaks the force of the water (not one with a shower head-like affair). A watering wand lets you water only the new plants so you don’t bring up a crop of weeds. It is a very satisfying afternoon and morning chore--soaking each little plant, one by one.
Watering is, of course, still the biggest job in the garden. If you are watering areas that have bare ground between plants, be sure to lightly cultivate a few hours after watering. Use a cultivating fork, with the curved tines on the end, or a steel rake (not a leaf rake), but do not dig more than an inch deep or you’ll risk damaging root.
Cultivating right after watering loosens the soil so it doesn’t crack, helps prevent weeds and forms a “dust mulch,” which helps prevent water from evaporating into the air. It cannot work its way upward if it encounters a layer of dry, loose soil on the way up.
Also, keep faded flowers cut off if you want them to continue blooming; this is especially important on roses, which should also be fertilized and thoroughly watered now to help them prepare for a fall bloom.
Any plants that have failed, become overgrown or otherwise made themselves candidates for the compost heap should be taken out, or cut back, now. This will be one less thing to do in the fall, so you have more time for all the other autumn activities.
