August - this is what you can sow and grow

Although August is in many ways the month you see the results of what you sowed in the spring, there are fast-growing plants that you can put in the ground now.

Some leafy vegetables can actually grow more easily when it gets a little cooler outside, compared to growth on the hottest summer days.

Autumn is an excellent time to plant new perennials, shrubs and trees, as the soil is slightly more moist. Wintergreens and conifers are examples of plants that benefit from being planted now, so they have time to establish themselves well before the frost arrives.

August is also perfect for dividing and replanting perennials you already have in the garden, as these also benefit from increased moisture in both the air and soil.

Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers and spices…August is a fantastic month for harvesting. Pick vegetables, fruits and berries and build up your winter food supply by pickling, juicing, drying and freezing.

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Certain vegetables may need a little help to ripen before the frost arrives. For example, you can consider topping the tomato plants, so that the plants can put all their energy into the tomatoes that are already there.

Also continue to harvest spices and collect them for delicious tea cups that can be enjoyed in the autumn darkness. Blackcurrant leaves, mint and lemon balm are examples of plants that are good for tea.

If you think ahead, August is a great month to harvest seeds from flowers and flowering vegetables. For best results, it's a good idea to pick them on a dry day.

Feel free to use plant residues from the harvest between the plants in beds and planters, it protects against drying out and at the same time provides nutrients to the soil. If you have a lot of grass clippings and other plant residues, you can also start the next year's cover crop.

As plants are harvested and the soil becomes available, it can also be a good idea to green manure - that is, to sow plants that add nutrients to the soil, so-called green manure plants. Examples of such are crab clover, blood clover and honeysuckle. Such green manure plants enrich the soil before the next season.

Let the leaves come up a little in the fall, before you cut them down and bury the residues in the soil. In addition to providing new nutrients to the soil, green manure plants make it more difficult for weeds to reach the soil. Many of them also help pollinators and other insects.

As early as August, it may be time to move some plants that cannot tolerate frost into the warmth – depending on the temperature and where in the country you live, of course.

Chili, peppers and basil are examples of plants that may be worth bringing inside early, so that they are not suddenly exposed to night frost. Chili and peppers do not thrive if the temperature drops below 10 degrees, for example.

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