BELMONT, N.Y. — Here it is, the early part of August. We are nearing mid-summer. Time to plant Garden 102.
By now, the peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, early green beans, broccoli and early potatoes are done in the garden. Don’t let the empty space go to waste, or worse yet, to seed. Any vegetable which matures in 60 – 75 days will do well in late summer. The hardy ones will grow on through October and light frosts.
If beans are put in by mid-July (oops – too late this year) you should get a nice crop by late September. The same is true for peas and carrots. Greens thrive in the cooler days of early fall, so does broccoli. The best are rutabagas and parsnips. They are far sweeter after a few light frosts, so they are good until Thanksgiving!
When I start greens and carrots in late-July/early-August, I choose a row on the east side of the asparagus or corn or raspberries so they will be out of the hot sun in the p.m. I soak the row well with water first as the hot sun can dry out the soil quickly, then sow, then lightly mulch. You may wish to lightly fertilize.
Keep an eye on the weather and if an early frost threatens, toss an old sheet, box, whatever and keep the goodies coming. A fresh salad in November is as good as one in May.
–M.L. Wells, Master Gardener Volunteer of Allegany County
Cornell Cooperative Extension
For more articles out of New York, click here.