August’s Garden Journal

August in the garden is unforgiving. The grass seems to shoot up six inches overnight, everything demands constant watering, and somehow it’s already time to plan what to seed for fall. As the month draws to a close, we're busy harvesting an array of tomatoes, peppers (bell, banana, and jalapeño), okra, cucumbers, and an abundance of basil (lemon, Thai, and Italian). And, of course, my personal favorite—cantaloupes.

Our yellow and butternut squash, while still producing, are starting to wane. Meanwhile, our hoop houses, bursting with Amaranth, Zinnia, and Celosia, are thriving perhaps a little too well.

With cooler days on the horizon, we're gearing up to seed our cold-hardy crops. The bulk of our fall garden will feature brassicas, lettuces, spinach, and alliums. If you’re planning your fall garden too, click here for a helpful guide on the best times to plant and whether to start seeds indoors or out.

As the season changes, we’re excited to welcome you to the garden for our Fall Festival on October 26, where we'll be hosting a lively Chili Cook-off (details below). It’s a perfect time to celebrate the harvest and enjoy some community fun. And don’t miss out—stay tuned for the announcement of our Winter Solstice event. I hope to see you in the garden soon!

Click the image above to explore Plant Hardiness Zones and discover how they impact crop production timelines across North Carolina and the entire U.S.