What to do in the garden this week, what is ripe, and the weather that will decide both.
The growing week
This week: partly sunny, highs around 76°F and lows around 48°F.
No frost, damaging heat or rain in the forecast.
In the garden now
The autumn garden goes in as the day length starts to drop
Set autumn transplants out late in the day and cover them a week or two. Row cover shields them from August sun; tucking them under still-producing summer crops gives useful shade. UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County
Drop mineral oil on corn silks three to five days after they show. A medicine dropper is enough to stop corn earworm. Clear damaged stalks to cut the overwintering population. UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County
The rest of the month, and the whole year, is in the garden calendar.
At the farm stands
In August, look for tomatoes, peaches, plums, corn, peppers, eggplant, melons, figs, blackberries, and the first table grapes.
Garden tasks come from the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County and UC Integrated Pest Management, each linked to its source. Growing weather is from the National Weather Service. Your own microclimate — valley floor or hillside — will vary.