The mantra of August. Water, weed, harvest, repeat! Sunshine and warmth is in abundance. Harvest after harvest keeps coming in. The kitchen is working overtime too. If I’m not pickling then Im bottling or freezing. Couple of year’s back. I’ve even invested in a dehydrator. Its been a game changer, for drying chillies. Homegrown whole dried chillies have so much depth of flavour in them. Just a couple dropped into a winter stew adds spicy warmth to the dish. As for the kitchen, it currently smells of pickling vinegar. Next month it will smell of hot sauce!

The garden is in full bloom, there is colour everywhere. Soon the slow down begins. Until then I’ll enjoy August’s harvest. The garden has started to need attention. As the beds are emptied there is still a chance to get another harvest by early autumn. Peas and even beetroot in a greenhouse or a polytunnel, and even winter radish. But if no plans of growing further vegetables than green manure is what I sow instead of leaving the soil bare, open to the elements.

The cut back on flower borders has begun too. Clear out spent flowers leaving a few for the birds to collect the seeds for feed over the winter months, I always leave my spent Rudbeckia blooms. The birds deep in to nibble at the seeds and besides the spent blooms look quite pretty too.

The flower borders that have gaps in them. I’ll direct sow calendula, delphinium and poppies too. They’ll provide early colour in spring. The greenhouse is in full propagating mode. Spinach and lettuce seeds sown in modules to help planting out a little quicker. Turnips grow well in cooler months. Sow now for quick germination. As September provides ambient warmth. November will help produce a healthy turnip harvest.

The winter vegetable plants need my attention now. Not only is fresh application of mulch is applied around each Brussel Sprouts and Kale plants.  But each plant is provided with staking. The weather may be calm now but the winter winds will not be so kind, especially if the veg plot located in an exposed allotment or garden. Last by not the least job of the month. Continue to turn the compost heap. If the content fills dry. I’ll water the compost heap too.

For now it's back to the kitchen grind!

Speak soon and Happy gardening