Sally Scalera

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

August gardening

August, 2009

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; sweet potatoes; peppers; pumpkin; summer squash; okra; Southern peas and watermelons.
  • Fertilize your peaches, apples, and grapes.
  • The following vegetable seeds can be sown now for a September planting; lima, pole, snap and shell beans; sweet corn; cucumbers; eggplant; peppers; Southern and English peas; summer squash; tomatoes; broccoli; cabbage; celery; collards; endive/escarole; 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 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 then, now is a good time to prune them.
  • Want colorful plants for a shady area then try impatiens, crossandra, coleus, angelwing begonias or caladiums.