The unusually hot weather we had late July was a real test for some garden plants …( and gardeners)!  To ensure your plants do well, keep on top of the watering especially in hot weather … water throughly.

Plants absorb water through their roots – not the leaves – so try to get the water onto the soil. 

The best time to water plants is early morning – as this allows the foliage to dry quickly which discourages fungal spores. If you have to water in the evening, it is best to water at the roots and not on the leaves, as this reduces any fungal problems when leaves are left wet overnight.

Plants in containers may well need watering twice a day –  early morning AND evening!

Keep removing weeds.

Hydrangeas in containers need to be kept well watered. Rhododendrons and Camellias also need to be kept moist, especially now, as next year’s buds are developing. 

Dahlias are especially thirsty plants – these need to be watched and watered carefully. 

Keep feeding all container plants with liquid fertiliser – once a week if possible.

Prune all summer flowering shrubs after the flowers are finished.

Remove the long whip side shoots from Wisteria to approx 20cm from the main stem – (to 5 or 6 leaves). This will help control the growth and encourage flowing next year. Wisteria also needs pruning again in January or February next year.

Trim lavender plants after flowering to keep their shape.

Recycling tips:

Conserve water wherever possible. Use water butts as much as possible – old washing up water can be used (when cool).

Old carpet can be used by gardeners in lots of ways… to cover compost heaps, lining ponds to protect the liner from stones in the soil, and also use it as a weed suppressant on a veg plot.

Don’t throw away the water when you boil vegetables for meals. Pop outside and pour it over the weeds that are appearing on the patio. Scalding hot water is guaranteed to damage even the toughest of weeds!

Ice Lolly sticks can be re-used as plant labels …. 

Enjoy the summer and sit back and plan for next year ….‘Now’s the Time’… to order next year’s Spring bulbs and perennials for this autumn planting.

By: Pete Harcom

Head Gardener

Sherton Abbas Gardening

07380 642 363

Sponsored by Thorngrove Garden Centre

By mid July harvesting of crops was in full swing and our kitchen was filled with the scents of midsummer from bowls of large strawberries and vases of sweet peas. The rain of previous weeks had done wonders so that the growth of both vegetables and weeds was amazing.

We were able to pick peas from our four rows of Hurst Green Shaft every 3-4 days. Most of these went in the freezer. The Carouby De Maussane mangetout and Purple Magnolia Snap both grew to about 6 feet providing abundant pods for salads and stir fries over a period of four weeks.

Haulms were removed from Foremost, Charlotte and Elfe potatoes during the first week and then dug about ten days later. All three varieties gave good yields. On the 19th the first blighted leaves were seen on the remaining rows of maincrop varieties (Picasso and Rooster). Neither of these varieties have high scores for blight resistance. As  rain and thunderstorms were forecast we decided to remove the haulms as conditions were perfect for the disease to spread rapidly. On surrounding plots most varieties had the beginnings of the disease while Cara and Carolus were quite free of blight.

With the exceptional growth experienced during the month we had to remove the net cloches from all the Brassicas as the rows had become very weedy. We were pleased that only two plants had succumbed to the dreaded Swede Midge (Contarinia nasturtii). These were destroyed and replaced with spare plants. Normally we lose more plants to this insect pest. Was it because the very weedy rows had made it difficult for the flying midge to detect the plants on which to lay its eggs ?

Our broad beans had all been harvested by the 11th and the plants removed. Two rows of Musselburgh leek were planted in their place. More leeks (Tadorna) were planted on the 25th on ground where the early potatoes had been lifted.

During the month we picked our first French beans and gherkins and lifted carrots and beetroot as required.

Our Moonlight runner beans are a mass of flowers and are setting well.

The first tassels have appeared on the sweetcorn and the squashes have a lot of flowers.

All our fruit bushes are giving good yields and go to making jam and wine.

By: Barry Cuff

Sponsored by Thorngrove Garden Centre