August Fruit, Vegetable, and Herb Care Guide

Pruning and Training

• Prune raspberry and tayberry canes that have finished fruiting, tying new canes into position. Limit the number to about 10-15 per meter of row.
• Complete any remaining summer pruning of over-vigorous apples and pears, shortening long shoots to finger length.

Sowing and Planting

• Sow vegetables for overwintering, such as lettuce, chard, and spring onions.
• Sow spring cabbage now, or buy plants in September.
• Plant out new strawberry runners while the ground is in good condition. Prepare for planting other fruits later in autumn.
• Plant new fruit trees and bushes, controlling weeds around them for better crop yield.

Harvesting and Using Vegetables

• Watch for sweet corn, parsnips, potatoes, and swede turnips becoming ready to harvest.
• Use vegetables before they go over; consider freezing them or giving surplus away before they become over-mature.

Soil and Weed Management

• After a spell of dry weather, dig over the vegetable ground, removing old crops, or use a no-dig technique by layering well-rotted garden compost on the surface.
• Control weeds over areas that will be dug later, using a hoe, covering with old carpet, or applying suitable weedkillers.
• Do not let weeds go to seed, especially chickweed, to avoid future trouble.
• When lifting potatoes, remove all small ones to prevent them from becoming ‘ground-keepers’ and carrying blight or blackleg disease.

Fruit Tree Care

• Spray apple and pear trees in damper localities or if wet weather persists.
• Prune fruit trees and bushes now, if not done earlier.

Preparing for Autumn and Winter

• Remove old crops when they are finished, making sure not to let weeds get away and go to seed.
• Control all weeds and dig the soil deeply, ensuring that it is a sunny site with deep well-drained soil.