Hi Homesteader,
We’re in the final stretch of July and I always use this week to think ahead to August, because what you do in the next few days has a real impact on how your garden finishes out the season.
August can go two ways. Either your garden hits a second gear and keeps producing right up until frost, or it burns out, gets overtaken by weeds, and limps to the finish line. The difference is usually a few intentional decisions made right now.
See Everything you should be doing in August in your Garden.
Feed your heavy producers. Tomatoes, squash, and peppers have been working hard. By late July they’ve used up a lot of the nutrients in your soil. A top dressing of compost or a dose of a balanced organic fertilizer right now gives them the energy to keep producing for another 6–8 weeks.
Pull anything that’s done. Spent pea plants, bolted lettuce, finished spring radishes get them out. They’re taking up space and can harbor pests and disease. Clearing them opens up room for a late summer planting or a cover crop.
Plant for fall right now. This is the thing most gardeners don’t do, and it’s such a missed opportunity. Kale, chard, beets, and carrots all love being planted in late July for a fall harvest. They germinate fast in the warm soil and are then growing through the cooling days of September and October — which is when they taste best anyway. Check out my guide to planning your homestead garden for help mapping this out.
Get your preservation plan in place. The tomato avalanche is coming. So are the peppers. If you want to can salsa, make sauce, or dry herbs, think now about what equipment and supplies you need so you’re not scrambling when everything ripens at once. My full homestead kitchen guide is the best place to start.
July is almost over, but the season isn’t. There’s still a lot of growing left to do — and a lot of eating.
See you next week for the August kickoff.
Gretchen
P.S. If you want a complete resource for planning, growing, preserving, and raising animals all in one place, the Modern Homesteading Academy is our low-cost membership program with everything inside. Worth a look.
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Happy Homestead,
Gretchen
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