Wowie—is it ever hot! What’s a vegetable gardener to do in the dog days of summer? If you’re a regular reader of A New Leaf, you’ve probably seen our advice on solarizing beds, planting cover crops or growing only those crops that can really take the heat. Brush up on tips by visiting our website! (See past July-August issues here.) Then, while your garden (mostly) takes care of itself, you can sit in your easy chair and plan for fall gardening. It’s a great way to be more effective and efficient–no sweat required!
Here are some simple steps you can take to be ready for fall planting:
Assess your site and garden. If you’ll be growing in the same place next season, really look at it and see if it is still receiving 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. As tree limbs grow, what was once a full-sun space can become too shaded for many crops, especially in the fall and winter when the angle of the sun is lower. If you need to trim branches or even move beds, make plans for that now.
If you’re just getting started, make sure you have full sun. Call 811 and have all utilities marked, and then measure and draw out a plan for where beds and other features of your garden will be. Make sure your garden is as close as possible to your water source. Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon, so hand carrying watering cans doesn’t usually last very long. Even hoses can be heavy to lug if they are long.
Sample, amend and/or till your soil
Even if you’ve done it before, take 5 minutes before the heat of the day to collect representative samples of all your beds or growing areas (see instructions here), and submit it to our office for free pH testing. The pH of the soil is important because it affects how available many soil nutrients are to your plants. A report of your results will guide you on how much lime (if any) and fertilizers your garden will need to support the crops you intend to grow. If you do need to amend your soil, you can research options and purchase prior to planting time. If you are growing in the ground, decide if you need to till and schedule it. Tilling can turn under cover crops and soil amendments and help manage nematodes, but it also disrupts the soil ecosystem. Try not to till too frequently.
Refurbish or build raised beds
If you grow in raised beds, assess their condition. Sometimes boards begin to separate at corners and new screws can firm them up. If individual boards are rotted, they can sometimes be replaced. If the bed needs to be rebuilt, you can purchase supplies and cut lumber or other materials now so you’re ready to replace as soon as there’s a good day for it. Sometimes you can even rebuild a bed right around the existing soil.
Repair or replace irrigation components
We recommend drip irrigation for vegetable gardens. It works well, but drip tape and soaker hoses eventually spring leaks; connections come apart; and fittings become clogged. Test out components and clean them if necessary. Discard parts that are beyond repair, and purchase new ones as needed. Decide what types of drip irrigation you’ll need for your fall planting plan and where they’ll go.
Sharpen, clean and repair tools
Having tools clean, sharp and ready to go when you need them in the fall will make your gardening much easier and more fun. Cleaning to remove dirt and organic matter is the first step. Simply spray down or wipe with a damp cloth. Disinfecting should be done afterwards and will help prevent the spread of plant pathogens. If it’s been a long time since your cutting and chopping tools were sharpened, do that too. More information on basic garden tool care can be found here. If you need to purchase tools, do so now. Yard sales are a good place to find gently used tools. Be especially careful to disinfect these used tools to avoid bringing in a plant disease.
Develop a planting plan
Decide what you’re going to plant. How do you know if you’re new to vegetable gardening in Florida? Check out our vegetable gardening guide! In it you will find a wealth of information about when and how to plant many vegetable crops, as well we recommended varieties. Use the guide to help you plan spacing so you know how many of each crop you can plant in the space you have. Do your best to rotate your crops by plant family from season to season. This can help minimize buildup of plant pathogens associated with specific families.
Purchase or pre-order seeds and supplies
If you will be starting your own seeds, go through your stash of saved seeds and determine if they are still viable. Then decide which seeds you still need to buy. There are many reputable stores and online retailers who sell quality seeds. If you are shopping when many others are not, you may be able to find good sales! You can also plan a seed swap with friends for a fun and low-cost way to try new crops or varieties. Be sure you have all the clean trays, germination mix, and other supplies you need as well.
Take a class!
If you want to learn more about gardening, try one of our upcoming classes. They cover a wide range of gardening topics and are very low cost. Some are held in person at the Extension Office, and some are online. Follow us on Eventbrite for the most up-to-date listing of new classes. By the time fall arrives, you’ll be more than ready to get out and plant!
Article Written by: Beth Marlowe, Urban Garden Program Assistant July 2024
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