Jobs for August

Summer is in full flow! Keeping on top of the watering (and all important deadheading) means that my garden is full of blooms. This year I am really into Osteospermum and have bought quite a few varieties to grow in pots - the bright colours really bring me joy.

Anyway, as well as keeping all of the pots watered and vegetables fed, this month I’ll be:

• Harvesting. August seems to be the peak for pretty much all of the things I chose to grow this year. I’ve already picked a few strawberries (hoping that the reason not many fruits have grown is because its year one rather than because I have done something wrong!), I am eating ALOT of cucumbers (no complaints here - I love cucumber!) and also the french beans I mentioned last month have proven to be a real treat.
  I will also continue to enjoy the potatoes I am harvesting each week.

• Lamenting my disasters… please no-one speak to me about onions or shallots. I dilifently planted about 100 sets earlier this year and the best that I have managed to produce look like mini pickled onions. Better luck next year I hope!

• Preparing for Halloween. I promised myself as soon as I had the space that I would try to grow pumpkins and/or squash. So, I have laid myself out a 3m x 2m bed and planted a selection of gourds - fingers crossed for some delicious soups and a sizeable Jack’o’lantern come October. If you are also growing squash or pumpkins then be sure to keep them well watered and fed so that you get juicy plump flesh when they are ready to harvest.