July and August Gardening To-Do List for PNW

As we head into August, there is still plenty of gardening left this year. Depending on your gardening goals, there are a few items to make sure your summer harvest is maximized, and for those who want to garden through fall and winter, it’s time to start direct sowing or starting plants indoors to transplant.

Summer Garden To-Do

A few reminders to keep your garden thriving until it’s time to harvest.

1. Water

As the temperatures rise, make sure you are watering your garden properly. When temperatures rise to about 85+ degrees, your garden needs about two inches of water per week. To calculate this, take the total square footage of your garden x .623. Water during the morning hours or early evening.

2. Prevent Powdery Mildew

August and September are prime time to see powdery mold form on your prized plants like squash. It forms when the Pacific Northwest gets high daytime temperatures, followed by humid, cool nighttime temperatures. Therefore, right now is the time to prune back the leaves of your plants to increase air circulation. Also, make sure you water your plants at the base and try to avoid splashing water on the leaves. For treatment tips, check out my blog post dedicated to powdery mildew.

3. Stake plants

Continue to stake and add supports to plants that need them. I just went through and added some supports to a few of my bush beans that were leaning on their sides. I also took some time to shore up my tomato plants.

4. Harvest Routinely

To get more from your plants, remember to harvest frequently. As you pull the fruit, the plant can redirect its energy into growing more. Harvest your herbs often, at least every two weeks. If you are not using them, chop some up and freeze them in olive oil or water to use later.

Fall and Winter Garden To-Do List

If you plan to garden well into fall and winter, right now is the best time to start direct sowing some varieties of seeds and starting others indoors to transplant out in late August. For more information, check out my fall gardening guide.

What To Direct Sow Now

Most of your fall vegetables that are seeded directly into your garden should be sown by the end of July. Lettuce is the exception to the rule, as it can be seeded until early October.

Root Veggies: Carrots, parsnips, radishes, and beets.

Greens: Lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula

Brassicas: Cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage

Veggies To Transplant

If you are starting seeds indoors, mid-July is the time to start them. By the end of August, all of your brassica plants need to be transplanted into the garden to allow enough time for a fall or winter harvest. Don’t forget the brassica plant family also includes kale, swiss chard, and mustard greens, which have a longer growing cycle than salad greens. In my experience, starting my brassicas indoors is the best way to go, then transplanting them into my garden.

As you start to think about what to plant for your fall and winter garden, I recommend putting a quick plan together. This will allow you to plan your garden with everything in it, including your later crops, like garlic, which gets planted in October.

I hope you find this list helpful. If you are interested in learning more about gardening, please check out my blog for more information. If you are local to Mill Creek, WA, and surrounding areas and interested in more personalized garden help, check out the personalized gardening services that I offer at your home.