August

Crops

Pick regularly to keep them cropping. If plants continue to flower they will produce more fruit.

Watering

Water consistently keeping the soil damp but not saturated and mulch where possible to retain moisture. Inconsistent watering leads to problems like fruit splitting and tomato blossom end rot. If you go on holiday in August you need to ask a friend to water your crops and keep harvesting so that your plants don’t stop growing while you’re away.

Feeding

Tomatoes, cucumbers and other pot grown plants need regular feeding to replace the nutrients from the soil which have been used up by the growing plant.

Beans

When beans get to the top of their supports pinch out the growing point to help keep blackfly at bay and encourage new growth lower down.

Onions

At the end of the month lift onions and find a dry spot in the warmth of the sun to really dry them ready to store.

Potatoes

As the soil is still dry this month early potatoes can stay in the soil until you want to eat them.

Green Manure

Spaces left by potatoes and beans should be prepared for next year’s crops and not left neglected. You could plant green manure this month. It is a crop grown to be dug back into the soil to release nutrients for subsequent crops. It also helps stop weeds starting to get a hold in the bare plot.