Sally Scalera

Brevard County Horticulture Extension Agent
3695 Lake Drive -- Cocoa FL 32926 -- 321-633-1702

August gardening plans

July 25, 2007

Since August brings us such hot temperatures try to spread the work out so that you can work outside in the early morning and/or evening hours. If you are planning to grow a vegetable garden this fall, now is the time to start preparing for it. Here are some ideas of things to do this month.

  • To prepare for the prime vegetable gardening season that is just around the corner remove any spent vegetable plants. Then add a 4 inch layer of compost or aged manure over the entire garden area to enrich the soil.
  • This month you can plant the following vegetables: pole beans; broccoli; celery; collards; sweet corn; eggplant; onion - bunching and multiplier; peppers; pumpkin; squash; okra; Southern peas and watermelons.
  • Fertilize your peaches, apples, and grapes.
  • The following vegetable seeds can be sown now for a September planting: Pole, bush, and lima beans; sweet corn; cucumbers; eggplant; peppers; Southern and English peas; summer squash; tomatoes; broccoli; cabbage; celery; collards; endive/escarole; kale; leak; lettuce; turnips and mustard.
  • Immediately after fruiting, both blueberries and blackberries need pruning. All the pruning should be done fast - by early August! Thin out the blueberries and trim the plants back to around 4-6 feet (depending upon the variety.) Trim blackberries all the way down to the ground. The new shoots that grow back will become next years fruiting canes.
  • Check the mower blades and sharpen them if necessary. While you’re at it, you may want to change the oil and air filter too.
  • Prune back overgrown pentas. Root the clippings in water to start new plants.
  • Prune off seed heads from crape myrtles to encourage more blooms.
  • Transplant your rooted poinsettia cuttings into a six inch pot. Begin fertilizing weekly with a half strength houseplant fertilizer.
  • Remember – DO NOT prune your gardenias, camellias, or azaleas this late - you will be cutting off the flower buds that will bloom next spring.
  • Want to add some flowers to a sunny spot then try wax begonias, coleus, impatiens, marigolds, celosia, gazania, gallardia, cosmos, purslane, sunflower and salvia.
  • Some herbs that can be planted this month include chives, mints, oregano, cardamom, ginger (Zingiber officinale), Mexican tarragon and rosemary.
  • Bulbs, for sunny areas, that you can plant now include African iris (Morea spp.), Aztec lily (Sprekelia formosissima), Snowflake (Leucojum spp.), Spider lily (Hymenocallis sp.) and Watsonia.
  • Bulbs for full sun to partially shady areas include amaryllis, white butterfly ginger (Hedychium coronarium), Calla (Zantedeschia spp.), Narcissus, Shell ginger (Alpinia zerumbet) and rain lily (Zephyranthes spp.)
  • Finish up the pruning of wisteria by the end of this month.
  • This is the last month to prune poinsettias this year. Make sure the leaves are a deep green so they can produce beautiful winter color.
  • If your bougainvillea is too large now is a good time to prune them.
  • Want colorful plants for a shady area then try impatiens, crossandra, coleus, angelwing begonias or caladiums.
  • Here is a list of some of the fresh produce that could be available at produce stands or farmer’s markets in July: Avocado, Asian pear, atemoya, blackberries, carambola, grapes, guava, mangoes and passion fruit.