You’ve got a few tomatoes, a handful of cucumbers, maybe a pepper or two—but not enough for a full-blown canning session. In this episode, I’m sharing practical and easy ways to preserve those small harvests so nothing goes to waste. From freezing and fermenting to quick pickles and creative herb uses, you’ll learn how to build your pantry one handful at a time.

Here’s what we cover:

• 🍅 What to do with a few tomatoes: freezing, roasting, small-batch sauce, and even fermented salsa

• 🥒 Cucumber overload? Make quick fridge pickles, relish, or a refreshing chilled soup

• 🫑 Freezing peppers and okra, plus how to dehydrate or pickle them in small batches

• 🥒 Zucchini and summer squash: shred and freeze, make chips, or quick pickle

• 🌿 Easy ways to preserve herbs: dry, freeze in oil, or turn into herb salts and pesto

• 🧺 Tips for efficient, low-stress preserving—even if you only have 15 minutes

💡 Tip: Don’t forget your soil! Late summer is the perfect time to recharge your raised beds with Organic REV. Visit OrganicREV.com and use code JILL10 to save.

📣 Want more step-by-step help? Check out my Harvest to Kitchen course and my Tomato Harvest to Jar resource at:
👉 journeywithjill.net/courses
👉 journeywithjill.net/tomato-harvest-to-jar

💬 What’s your favorite way to use a small harvest? Message me or comment on the podcast post to share!

My Products:
2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!)
https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux

Products I recommend:
Recommended Brands & Products page:
https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Connect with Jill:
Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos

The Beginner's Garden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)

Depending on where you live, August can be a month of harvest abundance or extreme garden fatigue—or both. In today’s episode, I’m meeting you where you are. Whether you’re coasting through harvests or struggling with heat, pests, and burnout, this is a chance to regroup, reset, and prep for fall without overwhelming yourself.

Here’s what we cover:

🌱 Reset & Reassess
August is the perfect time to take stock. Are your summer crops still producing, or is it time to pull them out? Clear space now to get ready for fall. (More on this in episode 199!)

🛒 Fall Garden Prep
Don’t wait to grab your seeds and supplies! And if you’re unsure about timing, today is the last day to grab my Fall Garden Mini-Course for $10 off with code FALL25 → journeywithjill.net/fall-course

🥕 Harvest & Preserve
Keep up with harvesting what’s still producing. Eat it fresh, give it away, or get ready for next week’s episode on preserving your bounty.

🌼 Tend What You Can
Early morning or evening is best for weeding, pruning, or removing diseased plants. Remember—less effort now means fewer problems later.

🌿 Mid-Roll Sponsor: Organic REV
Need a soil recharge? I turn to Organic REV to keep my raised beds thriving through late summer stress. It’s especially helpful for reviving tired plants and giving fall transplants a strong start. Use code JILL10 at OrganicREV.com to save.

🥒 Planting in August
Still time for fast-maturing summer crops: bush beans, squash, cucumbers
Start thinking fall:
– Direct sow carrots, beets, leafy greens (late August)
– Transplant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce
– Plant herbs like basil, dill, parsley
– Bonus: It’s a great time to plant strawberries (episode 386)

💛 Permission to Pause
If you need a break—take it. August is tough, but a reset now can give you the energy you’ll need for the (less intense but still busy) fall season ahead.

🎧 Listen now and give yourself grace as you head into a new season.

My Products:
2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!)
https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux

Products I recommend:
Recommended Brands & Products page:
https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Connect with Jill:
Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos

The Beginner's Garden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)

You followed all the fall gardening advice… so why isn’t your garden thriving? In this episode, I’m breaking down 8 subtle but critical reasons fall gardens struggle—even when you’re doing “everything right.” From daylight changes to soil fatigue to surprising transplant pitfalls, these tips will help you troubleshoot and turn things around.

🌱 What You’ll Learn:
– Why planting too late is one of the most common mistakes
– How fall sun is different—and how it affects your crops
– The surprising issue of soil fatigue after summer crops
– Why cool-season crops can fail in hot soil
– Watering and transplant tips to help young plants thrive
– Why direct sowing doesn’t work for everything
– The pest pressure you might be ignoring
– A mindset shift that could make all the difference

💡 Mentioned in this episode:
– OrganicREV – Use code JILL10 to save 10%
– Beginner’s Guide to Fall Gardening Mini-Course – Now open for enrollment!

If you’ve struggled with fall gardening in the past—or you want to get it right this year—this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and get your fall garden on the right track!

My Products:
2025 Complete Garden Planner (plus several new editions!)
https://shop.journeywithjill.net/

Vegetable Gardening for Beginners Book: https://amzn.to/3TZeJux

Products I recommend:
Recommended Brands & Products page:
https://journeywithjill.net/recommended-brands-and-products/

https://www.amazon.com/shop/thebeginnersgarden

Connect with Jill:
Sign up for Friday Emails: https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneywithjillNet/videos

The Beginner's Garden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden/

Link to Beginner's Garden Podcast past episodes: https://journeywithjill.net/the-beginners-garden-podcast/

(*links above contain affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)