It is said that “the heat of August produces nature's candy. Nothing tastes better than tomatoes ripened in August.”
Whoever said it was right: let the harvest begin! Now is the time to look around and be grateful for all the hard work that has gone into it… and get chores done.
vegetables
• Plant spinach and lettuce in mid-season for a fall harvest.
• Cucumbers cut for slicing should be harvested when they are 6 to 8 inches long.
• Onions are ready to harvest when the green leaves fall over. Lift the bulbs and shake off any loose soil. Move them to a sheltered location, such as a shed or covered porch. Arrange them in a single layer on a surface that has ventilation holes at the top and bottom. An old screen door supported by bricks along the edges will do. Proper “ripening” will take 2 to 3 weeks. Do not store onions that are still wet. Once the skins are paper-soft, place them in a mesh bag in a dark, cool place.
• Peppers can be harvested whenever they reach the desired size.
• Water tomatoes regularly until late August, then reduce watering to help the fruit ripen more quickly.
grass
• Fertilize between now and mid-September.
• Mow as often as needed to maintain a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches.
garden
• Newly planted perennials, trees and shrubs need to be watered continually to ensure that their roots grow strong enough to survive the winter.
• Fertilize roses for the last time around August 15. Fertilizing too late will encourage the growth of new suckers, which can damage the plants if there is an early frost.
• Divide spring-flowering perennials as needed. A noticeable reduction in flowers or a complete cessation of blooms may be a sign that it's time to divide. Also, if a plant is crowding out the ones around it, it may need to be transplanted to a larger space. Plants that benefit from dividing in late summer include daylilies, hostas, coral bells, coreopsis, garden phlox and speedwell.
• Watch out for powdery mildew. This is a fungal disease that appears as patches of white or grey powdery “stuff”. It's most likely to occur in areas where plants are crowded together and damp. Susceptible plants include phlox, bee balm, American ivy and roses. Among the vegetable family, pumpkins and cucumbers can get powdery mildew. To avoid this disease, avoid overhead watering areas where these plants grow and space the plants out to allow good air circulation.
Finally, keep an eye out for plant sales – plants are usually up to 50% off this time of year, so you can use the money you save to get yourself an ice cream or another bowl of Sweet 100.
Send your gardening questions to csumg2@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-7684. Our in-person help desk is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm at 17 N. Spruce St. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners – El Paso County.
Send your gardening questions to csumg2@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-7684. Our in-person help desk is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm at 17 N. Spruce St. Find us on Facebook at Colorado Master Gardeners – El Paso County.
