It's somewhat late to plant most tropicals this month, except in coastal zones. Among tropicals that can be planted along the coast now (or during any summer month) are papayas, bananas, and palms.

Papayas (Carica) and bananas (Musa, Ensete) will grow and bear fruit in all frost-free zones, but they do best near the coast and thrive on sheltered, south-facing hillsides. Papayas are tall, single-trunked, succulent trees with a palmlike cluster of leaves on top. It's a common misconception that bananas, like papayas, grow on trees, but they actually grow on a large, green, herbaceous, perennial plant. The apparent trunk of a banana plant is actually formed of a group of leaf stalks. Surprisingly, the fruits themselves are technically berries.

If you compost papaya skins and seeds, many papaya plants will come up here and there during the summer. Look for these seedlings now and plant a group of three to five of them in full sun, 4 to 6 feet apart. (You need both male and female plants to get fruit.) Feed your papayas for growth and provide them with good drainage and plenty of water. Or start papaya seeds in flats. For the quickest germination, rub a handful of seeds gently on a piece of screen under running water to remove the aril (the protective seed covering). Sprout the seeds in the kitchen on a plate that's covered with a wet paper towel and surrounded with a plastic bag. As soon as the seeds sprout plant them carefully in a premoistened flat of fast-draining potting soil like Gardener's Gold Organic Potting Soil. Keep them damp in bright-not dark-shade; a warm shady spot with an hour of morning sun is ideal.

You can also purchase papaya plants at nurseries specializing in rare and tropical fruits. We carry the varieties 'Mexican' & 'Solo'. 'Mexican' has large fruit with sweet, reddish-orange flesh. 'Solo' has small, yellow-skinned fruit. Delicious, sweet, pink flesh. It is recommended that you plant papayas in groups to insure cross-pollination.

When growing bananas begin with a good variety, such as Manzano or Enano Giganti. (The plants are small, but the fruit is quite large.) Fertilize them often with a complete fertilizer, such as Dr. Earth Organic 9 Fruit Tree Fertilizer. Bananas are big eaters. They are also thirsty, so be sure to water them well. You can keep them barely alive with less water and fertilizer in drought years, but their growth will slow down and they won't bear fruit.

We also carry loquat & several varieties of guava.

By Tamara Galbraith

Just as Pippin relished his "second breakfasts" in The Lord of the Rings, many gardeners enjoy the opportunity for second summer plantings in mid-August.

In milder climates where the first frost doesn't show up for several months (if at all), growers can get busy with a new crop of tomatoes, peppers and other heat-loving veggies. A few things to watch out for, however:

* Make sure you add a generous amount of compost when putting in transplants. We recommend you use Master Nursery Bumper Crop All Natural Organic Soil Builder. This will ensure your plants get off to a quick, healthy start in soil that's already been working hard all summer long and is probably in need of a nutrient boost.

* Keep a close eye on pest infestations. After all, they haven't been lounging by the pool drinking margaritas all summer like you have; by the time August rolls around, they've gotten really good at breeding and munching on your crops.

* As fall rains increase, watch out for fungus-related diseases like powdery mildew. Practice good gardening hygiene by cleaning up dead plant material from around the bottoms of plants, thinning out overly bushy veggies, and adding a fresh layer of mulch. All of these techniques help keep fungal spores from splashing up on plants.

* Pay attention to weather reports if your area is susceptible to fall frosts. A bit of frost cloth goes a long way in saving your hard-earned second summer crop from the compost pile.

By Tamara Galbraith

Ok, it's not like worming your dog...you're actually going to ADD worms to your yard. And not just any worms - these are microscopic eating machines called beneficial nematodes that chow down on harmful pests in your soil.

Several different types of beneficial nematodes are available: the Heterorhabditis Bacteriophora Nematodes (HB) are the "toothed" version and generally considered the most effective as they go down into the soil, hunting such pests as beetles, cutworms and everybody's nemesis: grubs. Meanwhile, the Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes or Flea Exterminator tend to stay closer to the surface but are good for controlling such pests as cutworms, fleas, and sawfly larvae.

Nematodes are available in a sponge form. The sponge formulation has the advantage that the nematodes can be easily removed from the sponge into water and applied using a watering can or a hose-end sprayer . Applying beneficial nematodes should be done during the cooler part of the late summer day. Nematodes will die if exposed to light or heat. Give the treatment area a good, deep watering first, so the nematodes can easily move into the soil once applied. Beneficial nematodes are sold by the million, so you'll need to figure out how much you need. The general rule is 1 million nematodes for every 2,000 square feet to be treated. Although they can be stored in the refrigerator for a short time, it's best if you use them right away.

Lastly, beneficial nematodes are completely safe to mammals, fish, and plants. But if you're a grub...watch out.