Welcome to August! As we are hip deep in watering, picking, processing, preserving and weeding we have work to do. Now is the time to finish sowing seeds for fall harvest and overwinter crops. In the Pacific Northwest where I live we experience an average of 268 growing days a year. In July/August we sow seeds to be transplanted into our gardens or greenhouses. Basically you sow in July/August the same crops you sowed in spring.
The Tomatoes are finally ripening
Every day bring a new harvest from the garden
Lettuce, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic (October), zucchini, peas, broccoli, Cauliflower, greens, kale, chard, beans, …the list is long. So let’s get started!
Sow your seeds in 4” pots, yogurt cups, recycled plastic beverage cups and leave them in a sunny/partially shady spot to sprout. Use a potting soil or make your own with equal parts of clean sand, native soil, compost and a sprinkle of crushed egg shells for good measure. Keep your pots covered with bird netting if you have smart Jays like I do. I think they sit and watch me then swoop down and take my seeds! 
Ants and mice will also steal your small seeds. Keep your pots watered, do not let the top of the potting soil dry out or it will make a hard crust which will inhibit the seedling from pushing up. Once you see the first set of true leaves (the initial leaves are the seed leaves) fertilize with a weak solution (10% fertilizer to 90% water). As they grow you may need to transplant the seedlings up into larger pots if you do not have space in your garden. Be sure to get them in the ground as soon as possible after their first set of true leaves show and they are strong. Protect them with cardboard collars (toilet paper rings work well) and watch for slugs, pill bugs or pincer bugs. These will mow your seedlings down over night!
Tell Tail signs of Slug Damage
Many crops like carrots, greens (which includes cabbage, kale, chard, spinach, bok choy etc) can be grown all winter long. Sow them now to get a good start and you will be harvesting all winter. Think ahead as you sow your fall/winter garden. Remember you will be harvesting in the rain and cold. Hail and snow makes it treacherous for me to walk down to the lower garden so I plant my winter garden in a closer greenhouse.
So things to do now:
* Choose the seeds you want to sow
* Choose the location of your fall/winter garden keeping weather and accessibility in mind
* Sow seeds with tap roots directly into your garden: carrots, beets, turnips, rutabagas, potatoes, garlic, onions, shallots
* Make your own potting soil from compost, native soil, perlite, clean sand and crushed egg shells
* Sterilize your pots especially if they have had seedlings in them in the past. Soak them in a 10% solution of bleach and water. Air dry
* Sow your seeds following packet directions
* Water to prevent a hard crust forming over your seeds
* Protect from birds, ants and mice
* Fertilize once the true leaves show with a weak solution
* Transplant into larger pots if needed
* Transplant into your garden ASAP
* Start scavenging materials for cold frames or low hoop coverings
* Keep seedlings watered and protected from excessive heat
