August Fruit and Vegetable Gardening
Cut Back Squashes
In August, it’s time to trim back sprawling winter squash plants. Cut back stems with tiny fruits at the tips, leaving only healthy leaves. This will help the remaining fruits grow larger and sweeter.
Harvest Beetroot
Beetroot can be harvested when the roots reach your desired size. Pull up every other root to give the remaining ones more space to grow. Avoid harvesting in succession along a row, as this can disturb the roots.
Lifting Carrots
Gently loosen the soil around carrots before pulling them up. Harvest carrots any time from ten weeks after sowing, depending on the desired size. Remove weeds and debris from the carrot bed, and firm the soil where you have been harvesting.
Tidy Strawberries
After the last strawberry has been picked, it’s time to tidy up the plants. Remove netting and mulches, and cut back old growth to leave just 10cm of stem. Position new runners in gaps in the row and peg them down with wire.
Feed and Harvest Cucumbers
Keep cucumbers well-watered and fertilized with a liquid tomato food or homemade comfrey fertilizer. Harvest cucumbers when they have developed a good color on all sides. Snip off the stalk at the top of the fruit to avoid damaging the plant.
Check Sweetcorn for Ripeness
Sweetcorn is ready to harvest when the silky tassels on the cob turn brown. Unfold the sheath surrounding the cob and press a kernel with your fingernail. If milky sap comes out, the corn is ripe.
Check Brassicas for Pests
Inspect brassica plants regularly for pests such as pigeons, cabbage white butterflies, and whitefly. Keep netting taut to protect plants from pigeons, and handpick caterpillars off the leaves.
Tie in New Raspberry Canes
Secure new raspberry canes to a support to prevent them from being knocked over by wind. Cut off old canes that have already fruited. Tie the strongest new canes to horizontal wires using soft string, and cut off the rest of the new growth at ground level.
Keep Watering Maincrop Potatoes
Maincrop potatoes need regular watering, especially during hot, dry spells. Give plants a thorough soaking until puddles form around the base. If potatoes are in pots, move them into shade during very hot days and water them well when the compost is dry.
Additional Tips for August Gardening
- Reflect on your planting scheme: Consider which areas of your garden could be improved for next year’s crops.
- Plant drought-tolerant herbs in sunny spots: Rosemary and thyme are good choices for areas that require less watering.
- Harvest summer squash regularly: This will encourage the plants to produce more fruit.
- Check for pests and diseases on all plants: Early detection and treatment can prevent major problems.
- Keep a gardening journal: Note down your observations, successes, and challenges throughout the season. This will help you improve your gardening practices over time.
