Late Summer Gardening: 5 Ways to Increase Your Yield

As summer winds down and the dog days fade, it might be tempting to put up your feet and relax. However, there are many ways to extend the growing season and increase your harvest. Here are five tips for getting more from your late-summer garden:

1. Second Sow

An easy method to extend your harvest is to sow a second round of crops. Plant another batch of fast-growing veggies before the frost date.

How to Implement:

• Selection of Crops: Choose short-duration or fast-growing crops such as radishes.
• Timing: Plant these crops well before the first frost so they have time to mature.

Benefits:

• Continuous Harvest: Staggered plantings ensure that vegetables don't all ripen at once, providing fresh produce for a longer period.
• Maximum Yield: Make the best use of garden space through successive planting.

2. Use Microclimates

Microclimates are small areas within your garden with different growing conditions, usually influenced by sunlight, wind, and other factors.

How to Implement:

• Identify Microclimates: Observe your garden to identify areas that are warmer or cooler.
• Best Planting: Plant heat-loving crops in full sun and cool-season crops in partial shade or cooler locations.

Advantages:

• Extended Growing Season: Microclimates can extend your growing season by providing ideal conditions for specific plants.

3. Physical Barriers

Use physical barriers like cloches, row covers, or cold frames to keep temperatures warmer around your crops, allowing them to grow and mature as temperatures drop.

How to Implement:

• Cover Selection: Choose suitable covers, such as cloches for single plants or row covers for wider beds.
• Timing: Install these barriers just before the first frost to provide added warmth.

Advantages:

• Frost Protection: Protect plants from early frosts, allowing them to continue growing.
• Heat Retention: Retain heat in the soil and air around the plants, promoting growth.

4. Soil Temperature Modulation

Maintaining soil temperature is essential for plant growth. Use appropriate mulches and strategic plant arrangements to keep the soil at an optimal temperature.

How to Implement:

• Mulch: Spread a thick layer of mulch around your plants to insulate the soil.
• Clustering of Containers: Cluster containers together to reduce exposed surface area and retain heat.

Benefits:

• Beneficial Growth: Keeping the soil warmer for longer promotes healthy plant growth.
• Reduced Stress: Shields plants from temperature fluctuations.

5. Pick the Cold-Tolerant Crops

Some plants are better at resisting cold weather. Choosing these varieties ensures a successful late-season harvest.

How to Implement:

• Varietal Research: Look for plant varieties bred for cold tolerance.
• Planting: Plant these crops in late summer to take advantage of their ability to withstand cooler temperatures.

Benefits:

• Extended Harvest: Cold-tolerant species continue to grow as temperatures decrease.
• Resilience: These plants are more resilient and robust against cold stress.

Bonus: Plant Fall Crops Under Summer Crops

As summer crops begin to wilt, you can plant fall vegetables right under them. The wilting summer crops will shade and protect the new seedlings.

How to Implement:

• Timing: A few weeks before the summer crops are exhausted, plant your fall crops.
• Plant Selection: Choose fall vegetables that benefit from being shaded by larger, mature plants.

Benefits:

• Extended Growing Season: Start growing fall crops earlier, extending the growing season.
• Space Efficiency: Optimize garden space usage throughout the year.

Use these tips in your late summer garden to enjoy a bountiful fall harvest.