Depending on the size of your garden, the end of summer might have you feeling maxed out of blood, sweat, and tears. Staying on top of weeds, watering, pest control, harvesting, fertilizing, trellising and pruning, and all the other maintenance tasks in the garden can be a huge challenge throughout the summer.
Here we are at the end of August, and September is right around the corner. Dreams of cool fall air are usured in by the winter squashes appearing at the farmer's market and the capitalism of the holidays that arrives earlier each year.
With the promise of fall on the horizon, there is still more work to do in the garden (unless you've decided to throw in the towel and take the rest of the year off). August is the perfect time to plant root vegetables, cole crops, and leafy greens. If you were able to get these crops seeded in July, good for you! Otherwise, you can find seedlings at local farms, greenhouses, and nurseries. They aren't as plentiful in the fall as they are in the spring, but local producers and online suppliers can be reliable sources.
Planning on indoor growing this winter? You still have time to seed greens and herbs for greenhouse growing, but get on that ASAP! Look for varieties that mature in 60 days or less.
PSA: Make sure you are taking care of yourself! The heat is no joke in our area this time of year. Stay hydrated, use sun protection, and listen to your body. Electrolyte supplements have been an essential component of my summer gardening routine. You can easily make your own homemade version, or you can purchase pre-made supplements like Nuun tablets.