August-ing Your Garden Game

Read by Matilda Longbottom

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Christy Page

Dear Gardeners,

Welcome to the August 2025 issue of Food Gardening Magazine!

August arrives like a grand finale–the garden at its most abundant, the sun at its most generous, and the harvest baskets overflowing. Here in the Northeast, I’m juggling the sweet chaos of peak season: tomatoes ripening faster than I can pick them, zucchini appearing overnight like magic tricks, and the satisfying weight of my arms full of beans, peppers, and cucumbers.

But August is also a month of paradox. While I’m celebrating the bounty, I’m already thinking ahead to fall. This weekend, I’ll be sowing my second round of lettuce and planting my late-season beets–those cool-weather crops that will carry us into autumn. There’s something beautifully cyclical about planting greens while harvesting summer’s peak abundance.

This year, I’m experimenting with vertical squash growing (inspired by our featured video this month), and I’m amazed at how much space it saves. I’m also trying my hand at propagating blueberry bushes from cuttings–a patient project that won’t pay off for a few years, but feels like an investment in future seasons.

One discovery that’s changed my August routine: proper green bean storage. I used to think fresh beans only lasted a few days, but I’ve learned techniques that keep them crisp for weeks. It’s turned my overwhelming bean harvest into a steady supply that actually gets eaten instead of composted.

Fresh Takes

August planting varies dramatically by zone, but the common thread is preparation–for fall harvests, winter storage, and next year’s garden. Here’s your regional roadmap:

27 Vegetable Storage Secrets: After months of nurturing your garden, the last thing you want is for your precious vegetables to wilt, rot, or otherwise go to waste.
How to Choose and Use a Vacuum Sealer: Let’s dive into the art of vacuum sealing, step by step.
The Marvelous Potato Harvest Story: Your potato harvest can be the gift that keeps on giving all winter long.
America’s Five Favorite Spuds: Join us as we explore the star spuds of American gardens.
Potatoes Every Day: Let’s dive into 21 easy, healthy, and delicious ways to enjoy the marvelous potato!
What to Plant in August in USDA Zones 4–6: Focus on quick-maturing crops and cool-season vegetables that can handle light frost.
What to Plant in August in USDA Zones 7–8: Take advantage of longer growing seasons with fall and winter crops that thrive in cooler weather.
What to Plant in August in USDA Zones 9–10: Navigate intense heat while preparing for your best growing season–fall and winter.

Plant Close-Ups

This month’s profiles tackle the challenges of late summer growing–from managing heat stress to maximizing harvests before the season turns:

Heat-Proof Beets: Strategies for Growing in Warm Climates: Discover varieties and techniques that produce sweet, tender roots even when temperatures soar.
Tired of Scrawny Peaches? Learn the Best Peach Tree Pruning Methods: Master the timing and techniques that lead to bigger, juicier fruit and healthier trees.
Why Are My Radishes All Leaves? Secrets to Growing Perfect Roots: Solve the mystery of leafy, rootless radishes and learn to grow crisp, peppery bulbs every time.
Speedy Salads: How to Grow Lettuce for a Quick Harvest: Get fresh greens on your table in just weeks with varieties and methods built for speed.
Storing Green Beans Fresh: Extend Your Harvest for Weeks (or Months!): Transform your overwhelming bean bounty into a steady supply with proper harvesting, storage, and preservation techniques.

Get Your Tomato Gardening Made Easy Special Issue

Our comprehensive tomato guide covers everything from seed starting to sauce making. Whether you’re dealing with blossom end rot, planning next year’s varieties, or just trying to keep up with this year’s harvest, this special issue has the answers you need. Check out Tomato Gardening Made Easy now.

Summer Pasta Recipe Collection

August harvests meet comfort food in these garden-to-table pasta dishes that make the most of fresh herbs, vegetables, and late-summer abundance:

Asparagus Pasta with Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce: Creamy, satisfying, and lighter than traditional alfredo–perfect for using up late-season asparagus spears.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi: Garden-fresh herbs and garlic transform simple shrimp into an elegant meal that feels special enough for company.
Lasagna Roll-Ups: A fun twist on classic lasagna that’s perfect for using up basil, tomatoes, and other garden favorites in individual portions.
Pesto Walnut Tortellini: Rich, herby, and nuts about flavor–this dish showcases homemade pesto at its finest.
Paprika Pesto Pasta: A smoky twist on traditional pesto that pairs beautifully with grilled vegetables and late-summer peppers.

Let Your Garden Lead the Way

Don’t forget to download your Tomato Gardening Made Easy Special Issue! Gold Members can explore our Gardening Kits tab for additional resources:

Check them out now, and download your favorites!

Whether you’re training squash vines skyward, preserving your cucumber harvest, or savoring pasta made with garden-fresh herbs, August is about embracing abundance while preparing for what’s next. The days are still long, the harvests are generous, and the garden is teaching us about both patience and gratitude.

Happy harvesting!

Warm regards,

Christy Page
Editor & Publisher

P.S. What’s your biggest late-summer garden challenge–keeping up with the harvest, staying ahead of pests, or planning for fall? I’d love to hear how you’re managing the August rush! Share your stories in the comments below!

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