Tomatillos might be an idea if you like Salsa Verde. Maybe leave it vacant or grow a short term cover crop like Buckwheat and then plant some fall greens, radishes, or broccoli in August after the buckwheat is done.

Oh great idea! I have always been so over enthusiastic with summer veggies, that I never considered leaving some room for an August planting! Are there any quick turn around plants that I could uproot by August? Summer greens?

It might be too hot for a lot of greens or even radishes at this point of the season. As Dave mentioned there are cover crops that would benefit your soil between now and August. Buckwheat only takes about 5-6 weeks from the time it is sowed until it needs to be cut down after flowering but before it goes to seed.

Well, so far my beds have been fallow all winter! I usually dig up my tomatoes et al in November, work in some manure and compost, and leave them fallow until spring. Thank you for the great idea!

You could have winter greens like kale, chard , Brussels sprouts, cabbage and purple sprouting broccoli. There's no need for an empty winter garden in your climate.

I know! And it's always because my summer crop lasts and produces past the sowing time for winter crops! Which is why the idea of leaving part of it empty till August was a new and revolutionary idea for me!

Bush beans would nourish the soil, plus you would get a crop. When they are done, just cut them at ground level and leave the roots in over the winter.

Linda

Perfect! I'll get them started today!

watermelon and canteloupe

Obviously I don't live in SF but I find that I can raise Winter brassicas in modules then interplant them between the summer crops. Then when the summer stuff comes out the brassicas are already there and growing.

"Well, so far my beds have been fallow all winter!"

Just to clarify my comments above, there are no benefits to letting a bed lie fallow. What I was talking about was using the time to actually improve, to feed the soil rather than feeding the gardener. Doing so rewards you with increased return the next season. There are any number of crops that will do that.

Dave

Ah, Dave, thanks. I don't think I made that connection! Bush beans and brassicas will be looked into, thank you, floral and Linda! Randy, I thought i was too late for melons!

KC -- yup on bush beans. I grow yellow so I can see them in the green foliage.

https://www.gurneys.com/product/cherokee-wax-yellow-bush-bean

Then, since we all love bok choy in stirrfry, we plant Bok Choy in late August.

Tony

p.s. we also do a sping and fall planting of Oregon snow peas on a small trellis.

That settles it! Beans it is!

Fava beans make a great cover crop, as well and grow well around here. I'm in Oakland, and have year-round rotation in my garden, when something finishes, it's immediately replaced, and I grow veggies through all 4 seasons, mostly cruciferous veggies, greens and roots in the winter. Also, think about planting seed potatoes now for harvest in the fall.

Matthew, when do you get your cruciferous veggies started? I have not had luck with potatoes in the past, so I gave up on them, but I do remember the amazing taste of new potatoes in my parent's garden! Wonder what I did wrong!

I'll normally start crucifers when tomatoes finish in the early fall.

I had some bed space so planted more okra and peppers last night.

Really? This late in the season? My bush beans are disappointing, I might just turn them over and start with something else.

KC

I know it is late but at worst they won't be ready in time. My bush beans did good but I don't have next ones ready to plant. Maybe I will do some tomorrow. My pole beans and asian long beans were total disaster. Even zucchini, tomatoes are growing slower compared to last yr.

Bobby, I thought the rain and heatwave we had recently would have helped, but I am definitely seeing slower growth this year too! Wonder what's going on! My zucchini which usually sprawl all over the bed have barely gotten large, and the tomatoes are scrawny!

KC

Do you have the book Golden Gate Gardening? She has a planting calendar that helps figure out timing with the Bay Area climate. I live in DC now, but had a veg garden in San Francisco and was very successful with all kinds of stuff, all year round, using her advice--all the brassicas, favas, scallions, and some lettuces in the winter; everything through the rest of the year. Kept adding compost and rotating crops and using the favas for winter "manure" and it worked out, except for the most heat-loving summer things. I even actually got good slicer tomatoes in the SF fog! Her book is really helpful, deep into the details. E.g., my romanesco cauliflower took 180 days instead of 110, but I didn't rip it out assuming it was blind, because she said to be patient with broccoli and cauliflower in the Bay Area.

Thanks doodlelou! I'll check the book out!

Favas are more than just a cover crop. They produce a delicious vegetable. I grow them solely to eat. First sowing in November to overwinter as babies. Then further showings in February and March. Sometimes in April. We're just eating the last few from the spring sowings now.

Yes we grew favas at my work place garden this yr. They were really nice and easy to grow. Will definitely grow them at my home garden next yr.

Note to self: Fava beans are not just to be bought at farmer's markets!

Thank you for the great suggestions! It's not been a very good year in my veggie beds. Everything is punier than usual and growing more slowly! I blame the roller-coaster temps we have been having!