It's mid August, and you're sweltering in the late summer heat that is uniquely Texas. Getting you to mow the lawn and pull a weed is a bit of a moral dilemma for some folks. So, why am I going to talk to you about vegetable gardens today? The point is; if you want a fall vegetable garden, you should be getting busy despite the heat.

The main thing most people should be doing is building the perfect beds, or reviving their spring/summer beds with more sompost and soils. If you are somewhat new to these weekly emails tips and have never read about "building the perfect beds" please read this tip sheet I submitted just this past winter/spring. It will get you started correctly.

Then, we can get more serious about what vegetables to grow in our fall gardens. And I say it again, that yes despite the heat, August is a prime-time to plant many types of vegetables for a fall garden. Many gardeners overlook this opportunity to have a fall garden. If you wait until the time when the temperatures have moderated to plant, many vegetables would not have time to reach maturity before the onset of cold and freezing weather.

Whenever possible, choose early maturing vegetables for the fall garden. They can be planted after early summer vegetables have been harvested and still be ready to pick before freezing weather.

The following can be seeded or transplanted in August through September:
• Bush and pole beans (8/1 - 9/15)
• Lima beans (8/1 - 9/15)
• Broccoli transplants (8/1 - 9/15)
• Brussels sprouts (8/1 - 10/1)
• Cabbage transplants (8/1 - 9/15)
• Chinese cabbage (8/15 - 9/15)
• Carrots (8/15 - 10/15)
• Cauliflower transplants (8/15 - 9/15)
• Swiss chard (8/1 - 10/15)
• Sweet corn (8/1 - 8/15)
• Cucumber (8/1 - 9/15)
• Kohlrabi (8/15 - 9/15)
• Parsley (8/15 - 10/1)
• Irish potatoes (8/15 - 9/15)
• Summer squash (should have been planted by now 8/1 - 8/15).

Remove old plants that have stopped producing to eliminate shelters for insects and disease organisms. Peppers and tomatoes planted earlier this year will not set fruit during the heat of summer, even though they may still be flowering. If the plants remain healthy, they will set fruit again once temperatures stay below 90 degrees. Side-dress established, healthy plants with fertilizer to encourage new growth and keep them watered. Tomatoes covered with spider mites are not worth saving.

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