Page 37 - ALG Issue 2 2017

JULY
AUGUST
GENERAL
This is traditionally the hottest and busiest month of the year. All the crops growing on the plot are depending on us to water,
weed and harvest regularly to help them
survive the heat. It is important to consider
that plants will wilt in the heat of the day
and recover in the cool of the evening. Try
to water during the evening or early in the
morning before the sun gains strength. Watering during the day is a waste of time and precious water as most of it evaporates in the heat of the day and never reaches the roots of the plants. A layer of mulch after a watering will help to conserve the moisture and keep the roots cool and comfortable under the soil.
Towards the end of the month the rst spores of late potato blight could be arriving on the allotment. There is no fungicide available to the amateur gardener, but there is no need for panic. At the rst sighting of the dark spots on the foliage, cut all of the haulms down to soil level and draw soil over the exposed ends of the stalks. Try to pick a dry day to carry out the job. The foliage can be put on the compost heap but it is better to recycle it through the local authority’s green waste system. The potato tubers will be safe in the soil and can be lifted as usual later on.
SOW – OUTSIDE
Sow early in the month north of the Trent and later in the south: spring cabbage, kale and a heat tolerant strain of lettuce.
Endive and radicchio.
GENERAL
At last the pace starts to ease. August can still have sunny and hot days but the cooler evenings and nights begin to slow down and the emphasis turns towards harvesting and clearing spent crops. By the end of the month the days will start to draw
in and it will be dark by nine in the evening in some areas of the UK. The warm days and cool evenings create plenty of moisture on the fruits and foliage of crops and this can lead to fungal problems. Remove any damaged or unwanted foliage and lift crops such
as onions, garlic, shallots and potatoes when their skins are
dry to avoid soft rots. It is important to keep harvesting at every opportunity to keep plants in production. This is the ideal time to start a new compost heap.
During August the tops of the onions should start to bend over naturally but don’t be tempted to force them over. This will lead to damaging the necks and the bulbs will be useless for putting into long-term store.
Start to draw the soil up around the bases of brassicas to support them against the winter winds. Make sure that there are stakes alongside sprouts and kales to tie them against later on.
SOW – OUTSIDE
Spring cabbage, winter spinach and spring onions. Early green manures, cover whilst the soil is still
warm.
GREENHOUSE
Condensation is a big enemy in the greenhouse this month and it is best to leave a small amount of top ventilation open overnight and to throw open the doors in the morning to clear the inside of the glass of moisture. Remove the lower leaves
GREENHOUSE
Keep a fresh, buoyant atmosphere inside the greenhouse. Damp down, apply ventilation and mist the air to keep plants happy. Water and feed tomatoes regularly to prevent blossom end rot. Snap out the side shoots of tomatoes when they
are about 5cms/2 inches long.
PLANT
Sprouting broccoli, winter cabbage, late cauli owers and leeks.
FRUIT
Inspect top and soft fruit for pests and diseases. Spray aphids with an insecticidal soap and use an approved fungicide for use on edible crops to prevent mildew attacks. Continue removing strawberry runners. Peg down a few runners of healthy plants that you want to propagate. Prepare new strawberry beds.
Net soft fruit against birds and squirrels. Water newly planted fruit trees and bushes.
HARVEST
Beans, peas, rst of the early potatoes and globe artichokes, young beetroot, carrots, onions, shallots, garlic and overwintering onions.
Collect fresh herbs for drying. Wind down on cutting rhubarb by the end of the month. Mulch
with compost or manure to build up crowns for next season.
on tomato plants up to the current fruiting truss. This will improve air circulation and allow warm sunshine to ripen the fruits. Try to complete all watering operations by late afternoon to ensure that any excess moisture has a chance to dry up before the end of the evening.
Stop tomato plants at four trusses to ensure that the fruits can ripen before the end of September. Keep on side shooting as well.
PLANT
Overwintering brassicas, elephant garlic and hardy strains of overwintering onions to transplant in the spring.
FRUIT
Inspect top and soft fruit for pests and diseases. Spray aphids with an insecticidal soap and use an approved fungicide for use on edible crops to prevent mildew attacks.
Remove netting from strawberries and clean the beds up, remove unwanted strawberry runners. Prune down fruiting canes of summer raspberries.
Water newly planted fruit trees and bushes.
HARVEST
Runner and French beans, sweetcorn, courgettes, summer squashes, marrows, globe artichokes, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, onions and summer kale.
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