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Yes you can still harvest in August in a Central Texas garden!

What I’m doing in August in my Central Texas Garden

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While it may not seem like it, August is vital for Central Texas gardens. Understanding what to plant and how to care for your garden can make all the difference. Here’s what I’m doing this month.

What to Expect

Understanding August weather is crucial for Central Texas gardeners in a typical year. Generally, you can expect daytime highs often in the 90s and nighttime lows around 70°F. However, 2023 is proving to be an exception, with soaring temperatures reaching up to 110°F and nighttime lows staying in the high 70s. These unprecedented conditions make planning your Central Texas garden in August especially challenging but not impossible.

Harvest!

Believe it or not, you can harvest in August in Central Texas. Peppers, tomatoes (under shade cloth), cantaloupe, and herbs like basil and oregano are all thriving despite the harsh temps this month.

A collage of four images shows my most recent cantaloupe harvest. Hales Best seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange are great choices for this region. They are heat and drought tolerant as well as resistant to powdery mildew.
Hales Best seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange are great choices for this region. They are heat and drought tolerant as well as resistant to powdery mildew.

Protect plants from the sun

Shade cloth, mulch, and carefully planning one plant to shade another are all ways you can help your garden make it through this season. Under shade cloth I have tomatoes setting fruit and basil living its best life.

A close up image of some flowers on an indeterminate tomato vine. A caption reads: Protected by shade cloth, some of the tomatoes are setting fruit and getting ready for cooler nights.
Protected by shade cloth, some of the tomatoes are setting fruit and getting ready for cooler nights.

In containers on the deck, our newest addition is setting one tiny cute lemon!

A closeup view shows our only lemon of the season. Our lemon tree is in a rolling container on the deck so that we can get it out of the sun on particularly hot days, and roll it indoors for the colder season.
Our lemon tree is in a rolling container on the deck so that we can get it out of the sun on particularly hot days, and roll it indoors for the colder season.

Start seeds indoors

With August temperatures frequently too high for successful outdoor planting in Central Texas gardens, it’s a prime time to start seeds indoors. Focus on preparing for the fall season by opting for cold-tolerant and frost-resistant varieties:

  1. Cold-Season Leafy Greens – Kale and spinach are well-suited for cooler fall temperatures.
  2. Frost-Tolerant Herbs – Herbs like sage and thyme can tolerate cooler weather and can be started indoors.
  3. Root Vegetables – Turnips and radishes can be prepared now for a hearty fall harvest.
  4. Native Flowering Plants – Consider starting native species like Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush indoors.
  5. Beneficial Companion Plants – Flowers like nasturtium can offer pest control benefits during colder months.

By concentrating on these frost-resistant and native plant choices, you’ll be well-prepared for a flourishing Central Texas garden as the seasons change! Here’s what I started so far:

  • Spinach
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Tomatoes (just a few to fill in the gaps of what didn’t make it through the summer)
  • Arugula
  • Mustard greens
  • Collards
  • Peas
  • Rosemary (a casualty of the hot temps, sadly)

Water wisely

Watering your Central Texas garden in August requires thoughtful strategies to conserve water and protect your plants. With this year’s extreme heat and ongoing drought, here are some methods to water efficiently:

  1. Use Mulch: Mulch around plant bases helps retain soil moisture, reducing watering frequency.
  2. Drip Irrigation: Utilizing a drip irrigation system delivers water straight to the roots, minimizing evaporation and waste.
  3. Timing is Everything: To prevent rapid evaporation and runoff, water early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
  4. Taking a Break: Given the harsh conditions, letting your beds rest in August and resuming gardening when temperatures are more forgiving is acceptable.

By adopting these techniques and considerations, you can maintain a more sustainable Central Texas garden in August, even in the face of this year’s extreme conditions.

Prepare for the fall

With proper care and plant selection, August can be a rewarding time for your Central Texas garden. This is also a great time to mulch, lay down layers of compost, or even sow a quick cover crop.

Share your own August gardening tips in the comments below!

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