August

General Maintenance

Build a compost bin too accommodate all the remains of harvested crops.
prepare ground that has become free after early crops to sow fast growing catch crops.
Green manures can be sown on vacant land.
Weeds need to be hoed off before they set seed.

Harvest veg while it is still young and at its best, this is the advantage of growing your own.
Sow winter Spinach, spring Cabbage and Japanese Onions before the warmth leaves the soil.
Sow Turnips, these are best sown in situ as they hate root disturbance.
Thin out when very young so the plants can get established quickly.
Winter Radish can be sown varieties such as Mooli and Diakon will grow for use in winter or storage.
As the leaves of Onions turn yellow bend the neck over to aid ripening.
Lift the bulbs and dry either out doors in the sunshine or in a well ventilated area indoors.
Keep picking Courgettes, or leave to produce Marrows.
Harvest Sweetcorn when the fruit tassels turn brown.
If the Peas and Beans are coming to the end of cropping, a few can be left to dry on the plant and supply you with seeds for next year.

Summer prune Raspberries, gooseberries, Cherries, cordon and espalier trained fruit.
Prune Plums and Damsons after fruiting. Take out any dead or broken branches.
Harvest Apples when they are fully ripe, but Pears can be pick whilst they are still firm and ripened before use.
Make new Strawberry beds and plant out runners taken in the previous months.

Moulds on greenhouse plants can be a problem as the nights get colder and damper.
Clear away any foliage that yellows or dies and generally open up plants to allow air to flow freely.
Continue to harvest all greenhouse crops to prolong cropping for as many weeks as possible.
Check plants regularly for pests such as White fly and Red spider mite.
Sow a greenhouse variety of Lettuce for autumn use.
Dwarf French Beans can be sown in pots and grown on under glass to get a small crop in the latter months of the season