Our next event is the autumn show on Saturday 14th September at 2pm in the village hall. Free entry, interesting exhibits and a delicious tea but best of all why not enter!
August is probably the most productive month in the vegetable garden but just as busy and hectic as the other eleven!
Cut down the fruiting canes of summer raspberries and tie in the new young canes with one about every nine inches then feed with a general purpose fertiliser.
Cut out the fruiting branches of currants and open up the bush to encourage new growth to bear next year’s fruit.
With strawberries remove the runners and any dead or dying leaves and give them a good feed. Plants should be replaced every three to four years either by using runners from existing plants or buying in from a supplier. This is probably the best option as the plants will be disease free and a greater choice may allow a longer harvest time. Plant the new arrivals as soon as they are delivered and don’t forget to label them!.
Mulch around fruit trees to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. It is also time to do a last tidying up of plums and apricots as soon as they have been harvested. Open up the centre of the tree and shorten new growth by about a third. Also remember to keep the tree to a manageable size.
Pinch out the growing tip of runner beans to encourage branching and increased cropping. Water and pick regularly and if a surplus of beans remember the wonders of runner bean chutney!
Finish digging second early potatoes but leave the main crop until next month.
In the greenhouse water regularly and ensure good ventilation. Keep an eye open for pest especially red spider mite and aphids. Red spider mite can be deterred by regular spraying especially on cucumbers. Lady birds and their larvae are avid eaters of aphids and you can squash them. If all else fails use a commercial garden detergent spray . They work by dissolving the wax coat of the aphids. Using washing up detergent is a bit risky as too strong a solution will also damage the plant leaves.
Garlic will have been harvested and now it is the turn of onions and shallots. Leave the growth to die down naturally and do not bend it over and then gently loosen the roots with a fork.
As soon as sage has stopped flowering remove the flowering stem and give it a good soaking and new growth will appear for next year. Remember that sage flowers are a great favourite of bees and other insects so should be left as long as possible.
Remove some leaves from tomatoes to expose the fruit to direct sunlight as this will add to the sweetness. The same applies to grapes.
The joy of freshly picked sweetcorn will now be ready. When the tassel on the top of the cob has died off and gone brown peel back the covering to expose the kernels. Pierce one with a finger nail and if the liquid is milky it is ready to eat. If clear leave for a few more days.
Remember our summer show
Good Gardening
Peter Estcourt