August, the month of summer vacations and back to school, is also a time when seasoned gardeners are planting their second round of vegetables to extend the harvest into fall. The month of August provides a window of opportunity for those who never got around to planting edibles in spring as well.

Since sweltering temperatures and humidity are not conducive to long hours of garden prep, consider forming the midsummer garden in containers with a lightweight potting mix. Containers reduce problems of soilborne diseases, nematodes, and poor backyard soil. Their portability allows for ease in reloca- tion for whatever reason.

Container vegetables do need daily watering. Make sure containers have a drainage hole. Newspaper or coffee filters placed over the hole before adding soil will keep potting media in the container as water drains out.

A water- soluble fertilizer is recommended at two week intervals after planting unless the potting mix comes with a time-release fertilizer. Schedule work in the coolest part of the day, early morning or after sunset.

Marinated whole fresh beans make an attractive addition to a summer relish tray. According to the planting chart from the Clemson Extension Service, there are specific vegetables that can be planted by seed or transplanted from August 1- 15 in the Midlands of South Carolina. A list of the plants and some of the recommended varieties from Clemson Extension, the National Gardening Association, and Park Seed follow:

• Snap beans — Blue Lake, Derby, Nash • Hal f- runner beans — Mountaineer white, Old Dutch • Beets — Detroit dark red, Chiogga, Red Ace • Broccol i — Packman hybrid, Belstar hybrid • Cabbage — Wa Wa Tsai hybrid, Brave, Savoy express, Green jewels • Carrots — Artist, Danvers 126, Rumba, Chantenay • Cucumbers — Salad bush, Sweet success, Cucino • Radishes — Scarlet globe, Sparkler, Cherry belle, Summer cross • Rutabaga — American purple top • Summer Squash — Yellow crookneck, Raven hybrid zucchini, Sunburst scallop • Turnips — Purpletop, White globe, Tokyo cross

Cucumbers need ample water all during the growing season to keep from getting bitter. If selecting seed, read the packets to make sure the variety is suited for the southern climate. Always inspect bedding plants, their soil, and pots for signs of disease or insects.

For the perennial procrastinator who hesitates to meet the challenges of gardening by the August moon, there is always next season. Many of the vegetables recommended above are well- suited for the cool- season fall garden when both the garden and gardener feel relief from the heat.

A second- sowing of zuchinni or other summer squash allows the gardener to freeze for future use.