Gardening with Pat Duke: Second sowings, blooming buds

In the Garden

August is slipping into its cooler half, and in here that means the flower borders are at their high-summer best, while the first whispers of autumn are beginning to make themselves quietly known. The dahlias are still strutting their stuff with flamboyant heads in shades of crimson, apricot and purple – familiar varieties like Cafe au Lait’ and ‘Café au Laitdeserve’ need a little extra staking, to keep them upright in any breezes off the sea. Deadhead regularly and you’ll be rewarded with a succession of blooms well into October.

Roses are having their second flush after the midsummer lull. Hybrid teas such as ‘Peace’ or ‘Ingrid Bergman’ still benefit from a weekly deadheading and a light liquid feed high in potash to encourage colour and vigour. If blackspot has crept in, clear away fallen leaves and consider a gentle organic spray to keep things under control.

Herbaceous perennials are now at their peak – think Echinacea ‘purpurea’, Rudbeckia ‘fulgida’ and Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’. All of them sing out in the low August sun and provide a valuable nectar source for pollinators. Keep watering containers, especially geraniums and fuchsias, as they can dry quickly in hot spells. A touch of tomato feed perks them quickly as well.

It’s also a good moment to think ahead to next spring. Order your bulbs now before the choicest varieties disappear from catalogues. Crocus, daffodils like Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’, and tulips such as ‘Queen of Night’ are all worth booking early. Meanwhile, cuttings can be taken from pelargoniums, salvias and penstemons. These will root easily on a sunny windowsill, giving you strong young plants for next year.

Finally, don’t forget to keep an eye on your lawn. Regular mowing at a higher blade setting helps it resist browning, and an edging trim gives the whole garden a tidy lift. A brisk hoe between the borders removes weeds before they can seed. Little and often is the secret to a flower garden that keeps smiling through August’s waning days

On the Plot

Local allotments and veg patches of are groaning with produce just now. Runner beans, always a favourite, are at their sweetest and crunchy best if picked while still slim and tender. Keep harvesting every other day to encourage further cropping. French beans too, such as ‘Cobra’ or ‘Blue Lake’, will carry on obligingly if you keep picking them. Courgettes, those quick-as-lightning characters, must be gathered small – leave them too long and you’ll end up with marrows fit only for chutney!

Tomatoes are ripening quickly in greenhouses and on sheltered patios before the light runs out. Varieties like ‘Gardener’s Delight’ and ‘Sungold’ are bursting with flavour. Keep feeding with a high-potash fertiliser and remove any yellowing lower leaves to improve air circulation. Outdoors, cucumbers, chillies and peppers benefit from regular watering; sudden droughts can cause bitterness and fruit drop.

Late summer is a time for second sowings. Quick crops such as radishes, spinach, rocket and mizuna will germinate fast and provide salad leaves well into autumn. Spring cabbages can be sown now in modules for planting out next month, ensuring fresh greens next April.

Potatoes should be lifted as their foliage yellows and dies back. Early varieties like Charlotte and Maris Peer are delicious fresh from the ground – dry them before storing to prevent rot. Onions, garlic and shallots can be gathered too; hang them in net bags somewhere airy. Carrots and beetroot are ready for pulling, but stagger the harvest to avoid a glut.

Keep an eye out for blight on potatoes and outdoor tomatoes after damp spells. Remove affected foliage promptly and keep it in a bag until you can burn it.

Finally, begin thinking about overwintering crops. Kale, purple sprouting broccoli and leeks should be established by now, but if you’ve gaps, local garden centres still have sturdy young plants for sale. They’ll keep the plot productive through the colder months

ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW