We are hitting the home stretch of this summer scorcher. Last month, we experienced our first hurricane of the season. Typically, hurricanes don’t start until August, but one decided to kick off the season early this year.Â
The hurricane’s winds uprooted many of my garden's trellises, tomatoes, and other plants. Fortunately, everything that survived thrived from the rain, showing their gratitude with an abundant post-storm harvest.Â
As much as I love summer gardening, my most productive and favorite season is fall. While most consider spring and summer the ideal gardening seasons, fall’s cooler temperatures mean fewer pests and diseases. My crop selection is also limited in the summer’s extreme heat. When fall arrives, I can plant anything and everything. And trust me, I do.Â
Fall Garden Preparation
Before I can start planting, fall garden prep is crucial. It revitalizes nutrients lost during the past growing seasons and gives me time to plan. If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you know I’m big on planning your garden for success. For me, fall garden prep looks like this:Â
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1. Remove Spent Plants: Plants no longer producing can become pest hideouts. I prefer to cut the plant at the base, leaving the root ball intact to decompose in the soil. This way, I disturb the soil and its microbes as little as possible.Â
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2. Revitalize the Soil: I add nutrients to the soil using slow-release fertilizers, compost, or soil amendments—whatever I have on hand. It’s hard to know exactly what to add without a proper soil test, so an all-purpose organic fertilizer or compost is the best bet. Be careful with high-phosphorus fertilizers to avoid nutrient lockout. After applying, work them into the top 1-2 inches of the soil.Â
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3. Water and Rest: After revitalizing the soil, water the amendments in and let the soil rest for a few weeks before planting. While not scientifically backed, soil should rest and recharge between growing seasons.Â
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4. Inventory and Planning: Check your seed storage and see what you have. Plan when to start seeds and where they’ll go in the garden. Since I plant my first fall crops in August, planning is crucial to maximize my garden’s potential.Â
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What Am I Planting This Month?
In Houston, Texas, gardening zone 9, August is the hottest month with average daily temperatures over 95°F. It feels like the heat will never end, but fall weather is just over the horizon. Preparing for fall is my main focus, so I’m planting my first round of fall crops this month. Planting fall crops in the summer gives me a jump on the season and allows for succession planting. This month, I’m planting: Â
- Basil: Genovese basil withstands Texas summers and continues producing until temperatures drop below 60°F. If it goes to flower, it will self-seed and return next spring.Â
- Bok Choy: Bok Choy was a standout last fall. This year, I’m growing ‘Little Shanghai,’ a smaller variety that fits well in limited garden space and produces within 40 days.Â
- Broccoli: I’m growing ‘De Cicco,’ an Italian variety that produces smaller heads in about 47 days, compared to 70+ days for other varieties.Â
- Chard: I always plant Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard. It consistently produces from summer’s end until spring.Â
- Celery: This year, I’m growing a new variety called Tango. Never let the soil dry out for great celery.Â
- Summer Squash: Despite the name, I have better success growing these in the fall due to fewer squash vine borers. I’m growing Yellow Crookneck and Black Beauty, which harvest in about 50 days.Â
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What Am I Harvesting This Month?
With the garden transitioning to fall, there isn’t much to harvest. I’m harvesting herbs like oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary, which grow year-round. I’m also harvesting the last muskmelons and a handful of muscadines from vines I planted last summer.Â
What Didn’t Work WellÂ
Last month, I raved about the muskmelons, but I lost some to rats or raccoons. Waiting to pick them fully ripe on the vine meant they were often eaten by morning. Next summer, I’ll harvest them as soon as they’re fragrant in the garden.Â
With fall gardening right around the corner, it’s time to start planning and preparing. Whether you had a great spring and summer season or faced challenges, there’s always another season to improve and enjoy the rewards of gardening.Â
