Green manures such as
Mustard and Phacelia and Grazing Rye can be sown now.
Continue regular weeding to
avoid build-up of work later.
Sowing and Growing
Sow oriental vegetables such
as mizuna, pak choi and mustard greens for salad leaves- they bolt
less at this time of year.
Sow parsley to last through
till spring on a sunny windowsill.
Sow Swiss chard and perpetual
spinach at the beginning of the month.
Make a last sowing of beetroot
at the beginning of the month.
Sow fast-growing ‘catch
crops’ for autumn use, such as radish, lettuce, rocket and
turnips.
Plant out winter brassicas,
broccoli, kale and cabbbages in soil which has been limed at least 6
weeks before, to reduce club root infestations.
Plant new strawberries now,
either as detached runners or new plants.
In dry weather keep runner
beans well-watered twice a week to aid setting.
To reduce risk of tomato
blight, water directly onto the roots not the leaves.
Feed courgette plants weekly
with a high potash liquid feed to continue fruiting.
Summer prune trained fruit
trees such as fans, espaliers and cordons.
Prune plum and damson trees
after fruiting. On grape vines shorten fruit bearing branches to two
leaves beyond the fruit bunch.
Prune out fruited canes of
summer raspberries.
Tie in new canes on raspberries
and blackberries.
On grape vines shorten fruit
bearing branches to two leaves beyond the fruit bunch.
Cut back chives if showing
signs of rust and new shoots will quickly appear. Remove mint plants
showing signs of rust. The disease will persist over winter and
re-infect new plants next year.
Pick off and destroy rosemary
leaf beetle which are active at this time of year.
In the greenhouse avoid
splashing water onto leaves. Moisture triggers spore germination of
fungal diseases.
Harvesting
Harvest sweet corn when a
grain exudes milky juice when tested with a fingernail and the
whiskers are brown.
Harvest onions and shallots
when the stems are dry and papery.
Start harvesting runner beans,
parsnips and cucumbers when ready.
Complete harvesting of second
early potatoes and begin to harvest main crop potatoes as they begin
to flower.
Harvest early ripening apples
and pears.
Harvest carrots, but leave
protective insect mesh on carrots until autumn.
Gardening for wildlife
Leave some flower seed heads
on plants as source of food for wildlife.
Cut and shake ripe seed heads
of annuals over suitable patches of bare soil for flowers next year.
