8 Crops You Can STILL Plant in August RIGHT NOW!

Summary

In this gardening video, host Kevin and guest Meg Shanny discuss planting strategies for August, focusing on artichokes, broccoli, root crops like carrots and radishes, and green beans. They emphasize variety selection for heat tolerance, direct seeding, and companion planting. Tips for planting flax and snap peas are also shared, along with advice on tomato cultivation for a mild fall season. Eric highlights fennel as a triple threat plant for mild climates, offering tips for successful growth.

Takeaways

• 🌱 August is an ideal time to plant artichokes, especially in warmer climates like San Diego Zone 10B.
• 🌼 Artichokes are perennials in zones 7 and above, meaning they can regrow year after year.
• 🍃 In mild climates, plant artichokes in the fall to establish them before winter and get a spring harvest.
• 🥦 Despite the heat, August is the right time to start planting broccoli for an early fall harvest.
• 🌡 To grow broccoli in hot weather, select heat-tolerant varieties like Bellstar and Kylon.
• 🥕 Carrots and radishes are excellent companions for 'chaos gardening' and can be planted together in August.
• 🥬 Beets and turnips are another good root crop combination to plant in the fall for a cool weather harvest.
• 🌱 Green beans are easy to grow and can be direct-seeded in the soil, with care to not damage their shallow roots.
• 🍆 Smaller tomato varieties like 'chocolate cherries' are recommended for humid and disease-prone areas.
• 🌿 Flax is both a beautiful garden plant and a source of edible seeds and oil, and it's tolerant of heat and drought.
• 🥒 Snap peas are a versatile cool-weather crop that can be grown vertically on trellises for an attractive garden feature.

Q & A

What is the best time to plant artichokes in San Diego Zone 10B?

The best time to plant artichokes in San Diego Zone 10B is in the fall, specifically in August, as it allows the plant to establish before the mild winter and produce in the following spring.

How long does it take for artichokes to become established and produce in San Diego's climate?

Artichokes in San Diego Zone 10B can become established and produce within 3 to 5 years after planting, with the first harvest expected the following spring.

What are the steps to maintain artichoke plants in a mild climate?

To maintain artichoke plants, cut the main trunk off to allow the plant to go dormant during the fall season, enabling offshoots to emerge the following spring.

What is the strategy for growing broccoli in hot summer months?

The strategy involves selecting heat-tolerant varieties like Bellstar and Kylon, starting seeds in shaded areas, and transplanting them to the garden once seedlings emerge.

How long does it typically take for broccoli seedlings to be ready for planting in the garden?

Broccoli seedlings usually take about 2 to 4 weeks to be ready for planting in the garden after seeds are started.

What is the benefit of planting root crops like carrots and radishes together?

Radishes grow quickly and can be harvested before carrots, loosening the soil and aiding in thinning, which benefits the growth of carrots.

What are some tips for planting green beans in the fall?

Directly sow green beans about 1 inch deep, space bush beans 3 inches apart and thin to 6 inches, and for pole beans, space seeds 4 to 6 inches apart.

Why is flax seed an interesting plant to grow in the garden?

Flax seed is interesting because it is both edible and produces beautiful flowers. It's also heat and drought-tolerant, making it suitable for many climates.

How should snap peas be planted for optimal growth?

Snap peas should be planted directly into the soil at the base of a trellis about an inch deep, spaced about 2 inches apart for optimal growth.

What are some tips for successfully growing tomatoes in the fall in the Deep South?

Choose small-sized tomato varieties like chocolate cherries, start seeds in a cool place, and transplant them with adequate spacing and good air circulation to prevent diseases.

Why is fennel a good choice for planting in August in a mild climate?

Fennel is a good choice because it is a 90 to 100 day crop that can be used for its bulb, seeds, or as a pollinator plant, and it thrives in mild climates.