What to do in the garden this week, what is ripe, and the weather that will decide both.
The growing week
This week: patchy fog, highs around 86°F and lows around 50°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
Sow fava beans to overwinter, or as green manure. An inch or two deep, 6–8in apart, rows 18in. The root nodules fix nitrogen right up until the pods form. UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County
Pinch the flower heads off basil and the other herbs. Keeps the leaves tasting as they should and slows bolting. 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.