August Garden Check-In: Surviving the Summer Stretch

Time it right: Water between 4:00 and 10:00 a.m. Morning watering cuts down on evaporation from wind and midday sun, and lets leaves dry quickly, which helps prevent fungal disease. Avoid watering in the heat of the day, since the sun steals moisture fast and can scorch wet leaves.
Evening watering: It can work if leaves have time to dry before dark, but wet foliage sitting overnight in cool air invites mildew and rot.
Target the base: Use a drip line, soaker hose, or watering wand close to the soil instead of an overhead sprinkler. Keeping leaves and fruit dry is one of the easiest ways to head off mildew and rot.
Check before you water: Push a finger or trowel 2 inches into the soil. If it's still damp, wait a day. If it's dry at that depth, it's time to water.
Group by water needs: Plant water-hungry crops and drought-tolerant ones in separate zones so you're not over- or under-watering to compromise.

August 18, 2026

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Nicole Jones

For Nicole Jones, agriculture isn’t a career — it’s a calling. She grew up in the industry, starting 4-H at age five showing dairy cattle and serving as a dairy ambassador — the beginning of a lifelong commitment to the land. That passion carried her through over five years as an agriculture educator and FFA advisor before joining Skagit Farmers Supply, where she leads the Country Store Academy workshop series. A working farmer herself, Nicole brings both classroom expertise and boots-on-the-ground experience to every program she builds.

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