to theAugust issue of Grow Your Own.Asweenter late summerweenjoy thefruitsofour labours, with harvest baskets groaning,everythinginbloom,and thoughtsturning to preservingcrops once we move into theautumn months.But this doesn’t mean we have to slow down on theplot–there is stillplentyto do if youare lookingfor it!
Similarly to last month, wateringisstill at the forefrontofour minds, especiallywiththisbeinga peak monthfor summer holidays. We have some quicktips andtricks to ensure effective irrigation (page46), andweare solvingsomeofthose common summergardenissues over on page 64
MarkLaneisenjoyingaproductive monthinhis garden (page 10)withplentyoffruit, vegand herbs coming in thickand fast! JamesMartin is also keepinghis family plot goingwiththe summer holidayswelland trulyhere(page50)
We arealsoshowcasingsomeofthe most inspiringgardens youcan visitthis summer(page 48), andare hearingabout thegrowing journeys of gardenersupand down thecountry (page 73).
As ever,wehaveafab selectionof growingguides andhow-tos to keep you busy– we hope youenjoy theissue!
Happy growing!
Laura
Editor LauraHillier
Enjoyyour free seeds! (digital copies excluded)
If you’dliketokeep up to speed with the latest GYOnewsand developments as they occur, whynot follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook?You can find us at @GYOmag. @growyourownmagand facebook.com/ growyourownmag.You can also join our thriving forum at growfruitandveg.co.uk
GYO is proudtosupport the organisationsshown below. Their members writeregularly forthis magazine, ensuringthatyou receive theverylatest top-notchadvice from industryexperts –it’scrucial to us that everything youreadonthese pages can be trusted implicitly.We’realsokeen to protect the environmentand actresponsiblyinthe garden, so will only list man-made garden chemicalswhere organic remedies arenot deemed suitable.Onceyou’veread this magazine, whynot donate it to your local doctors’ or dentists’surgery ?Failing that,magazinescan be put outwithyourrecyclingfor collection.
TOP CROPS! Aug ust’s
Cool as acucumber
We shareour step -by-step guidetothisdelicious saladcrop
Super spinach
This fantasticand goodness-packed leaf is perfect forgetting outof thestartinggates now!
Cauliflowerguide
Take alookatour in-depth guidetothisdelicious and versatileveg
JobsPlot on the
August is amonth in the garden wherethe hard work reallystarts to payof. Braceyourselffor a crescendo of harvests by defrosting the freezer, washingout preserve jars, andtellingfriends andrelatives to stop by forawell-timed visit. Swap glutswithother growers,sothatyou shareout your collective bounty and enjoyawider arrayofcrops.
Containergrowing
The Herb Garden
Make themost of edible flowers: scatter calendula, chive,borage, nasturtium andlavender flowers over saladstopep them up.Takeheelcuttings of boxplantsbygentlypullingoff 10cm long sideshoots. Remove lowerleavesand insert into gritty compost.Finally, plan aheadand dryleafy herbsfor winterstorage.
Nowthatweare in high summer,you can begintolessen your high -potashfruitfeeds Keep pots well wateredascrops swell, but reducefertiliser levels as themonth goes on.
Potted orchardcrops areoftengraftedonto dwarfrootstocks. If anysuckers (shootsat soil level) appear,pull these offtomaintaina compacthabit to suityour space.
If quick- growing(healthy)veg cropsare now maturingingrowingbags, feel free to make a secondsowinginthe compost once they are removed. It’ll still have some goodness.
On hotdays, you’ll need to waterthirsty maturecourgetteand tomato plants daily–if nottwicedaily –now that theirrootsystems arefullyestablished.
Seasonaltasks
Thevegetable patch
Checkwhensweetcorn is readyfor picking –peelbackafew of theouter leaves and checkthe colour andplumpness of kernels. Lift maincrop potatoes duringdry weather, leaveonthe soil foraday to help set their skins, then storeinpaper or Hessiansacks. Your compost heap will be fillingupwith green, sappy material –add straw or cardboardintothe mixifitbecomes toowet andslimy.
Keep an eyeout forpotatoblightand cut off affected foliage as soonasseen to prevent thedisease from spreadingtotubers below.
Makesomesowings of turnips, baby carrots, radishes, spinach, saladsand orientalleaves to keep harvestsgoing throughtoautumn. Keep on pickingrunner beans, beingsure nottomissold pods– this will promote yetmorebeanstoset, givingyou alonger cropping time.
Give your wintersquashes andpumpkins ahelping hand with ripeningbycutting off anylarge leaves that shadetheir fruits from thesun.
Lift up onions during sunny weather, laying them on atrayinawarm, dryspotsuchasa greenhouse, conservatory or porch. Reducewateringofpot-grown chillies at the endofthe month, to help remainingfruits to matureand colour up readyfor harvesting. Don’tpull up calabrese once themain head hasbeen harvested –numerous small sideshoots will appear to give asecondcrop.
Undercover
Maintain consistently moistsoilfor tomato plants, as erratic watering may lead to fruits splitting. If younoticesplit fruits, pick quicklyand they ’ll still be finefor eating.
Set up sticky traps to capturelarge numbers of damaging whitefly and introducepredatory midgetokeep red spider mite numbers undercontrol
Pinch out cucumber sideshoots and remove anylower,yellowingleaves.
Dryyour freshly-lifted onions from theveg patchand storeonwireracks underglass until needed.
Continue dampingdownthe greenhouse with wateronwarm, summer evenings to raisehumidity levels,especiallyifgrowingchillies or melons.Open ventsand doorsto improve ventilation.
Begin dryingoff chilli plants at theend of themonth to ripen fruits.
PROBLEM OF THEMONTH:
Late blight
This diseasecan affect both tomatoes and potatoes,spreadingacrossthe wholecropquickly. Rottingoccurs on foliage, alongwiththe fruitortubers, and shrivelling, brownleavesare an easily-spotted symptom. These problems arearesult of afungus-like organism.Occurringfromaround early summer,itcan be especially prevalentthismonth due to thehumid, wetweather.The keyistoact early, give plants aspray of copper fungicide anddispose of anyinfected plants (never put them on thecompost). Regularly checkyour remainingcrop.
Fruits of your labour
This is agoodmonth to summerpruneany fruittrees that aretrained as arestrictive shape, e.g. cordons, fans,step- overs or espaliers.
Earlyapple andpear varieties shouldbepickedand eatenassoon as they’reripe to avoidspoiling
Summer strawberry varietiescan nowbetidieduppost-harvest; trim offall oldand tiredleaves, then waterand feed well to revive fornext summer’s crop
Early-maturinggrape varieties, such as ‘Chardonnay’, should be protected from wasps as theirsugar levels rise Set trapsorcoverbunches with nets
Raspberryseasonisinfull swing. In hotweather pick over canes daily, as otherwiseyou’ll miss fruits as they’ll quicklyspoil on theplants.
Blueberriesand raspberriesripen periodically rather than all at once, so pick over canesand bushes every fewdaystoensureperfection.
Focus on this :
Sowing in dry weather
Starting offcrops duringsummeris keyifyou want to prolongharvests into thelatter part of theyear, butwhatifthe soil has driedtoacrisp?Follow this simpleprocess andyou’llget greatemergence: prepare your seedbed, raking andtreading thesoillevel andeliminating any clods. Create drills using ahoe, slightly deeperthanrequired, then waterthe base thoroughly, making sure it has time to soak in rather than runoff thesurface Sowyourseed. Coverthe drill withdry soil or compost ,cover withnewspaper andcheck every fewdaysfor emergencebefore removing thepaper
WGARDEN DIARY MARK’S
Mark
Lane is enjoyingavegetable bounty this monthinhis space
iththe reallywarm weather, Ihavebeen tryingtokeep on topofwatering and feedingmyfruitand vegetables. My tomatoes have done incrediblywell this year,and it’s been fun growinga couple of varieties that Ihavenever grownbefore. This year,mybountiful harvest includes ‘Gardener ’s Delight’, ‘Gourmansun’, ‘Moneymaker’,‘ Black Cherry ’and ‘YellowTumbling’.The nasturtiumsIplanted around the base of thetomatoes,which have all been growninpots, have looked stunninginshadesofyellow, orange andred, pickingout thecoloursofthe tomatoes. August is alsothe perfect time to pinchout thetips of tomato plants so thefruitcan develop–aim forfive or sixtrusses of fruitper plant.
As part of ‘Grow AlongLive’ on BBCMorning Live,where Ihavebeen
gettingthe nationgrowingtheir own food, no matter thesizeofthe outdoor space, Ihavealsogrown ‘CavoloNero’ kale, spinach, ‘Hurst Greenshaft’ peas, curly parsley, wildrocketand mixed baby leaf lettuce. These have also been grownalongside calendula, tagete and borage plants. When it comestofeeding, Ihavethe go -totomatofeed,but Ialso love makingmyown fertiliser forfree from nettles, whichgrowinabundance in thehedgerows aroundus.
To make your ownnutrient- rich nettle fertiliser, simply pick some fresh shoots beforetheyflower(about a bucketfull), then chop them up into small pieces andcoverthe chopped nettleswithwater to steep.Add aplate overthe topofthe bucketand place somewhereout of theway.After two to four weeks, strainofthe liquid (addingthe ‘mushed’ nettle leaves to the compost heap)and diluteitwithwater
(usuallyone part nettle teato10parts water) andpour aroundthe base of your tomato plants.
Manyofmyherbs, primarilyparsley (curly andflat-leafed),thyme,mint, rosemaryand sage have done well, provingthatthese aregreat plants to use when selectingdrought-tolerantplantsfor your garden. Yet, nowisa greattimeto cut them back to encouragenew grow th of tasty leaves. Thepruned leaves/stems andany newgrowthcan be frozen to use lateroninthe kitchen. Asimple method is to put some leaves into icecubetrays and then fill each tray with your oilofchoice (rapeseed,vegetable,olive)and then pop it in thefreezer.Thisway,whenyou start cooking, youcan popout an ‘ice- oil’ cube andadd it to your dish.And,remember, that cuttings from rosemary, sage or mint will readilytakeifput into moist, welldrainedpottingcompost (50:50 ratio of grit andcompost). Also,floweringherbs,
ch as fennel and chervil will be settin
su , g seed, so collect them on asunnyday,and Ifind it’s best to sowchervil immediately.
We’vealsobeen enjoying strawberries, blueberries, honeyberries, raspberries andblackberries –again, all growninpots. Thereisnothing better than poppingoutside, pickingsome berries andaddingthemtomybreakfast or to some Greekyoghurt foranevening treat. As these were only plantedthis year,and because of thehot,dry weather, wateringhas been key. Thecompost aroundthe base of theplantshas been kept moist, free of weedsand mulched.
I’malsoveryexcited, because whilethe landscapingworkwas being carried out on therear garden, Igot the contractorstore- do the‘TV garden’, so that Ican easily access it.Ithas meant removingthe thin strip of lawn,but Ihave increased theborders to compensate We’vealsomovedthe greenhouse to a newposition, freeingupalarge area in frontofmypottingshed. We extended thewires on thefence,which supportthe espaliered fruittrees, so Ican nowgrow my raspberries up thefence.Thisarea is in full sun, so I’m lookingforward to a bountiful harvest of delicious raspberries next year
I’vealsoaddedtwo youngkiwiplants, ‘Ken’s Red’ (female) and‘ Issai’ (male) in this area, allowingthree to four metres of clear fenceand wires foreachtogrow. Thesoilwas beefed up with homemade compost andchicken pellet manure. Thesoilisfree- draining in this area, whichisperfect forkiwiplants, as they hate waterlog gedorpoorlydrained soil. Grow th tendstobequickinthe first year so thehorizontalwires will support the younggrowth.
I’malsolovingthe idea of groundcover fruitbushes, so,inthe rear garden, Ihaveanareainfull sun, where cranberry busheshavebeen planted, andI’vebeen meaningtogrow Ugni molinae (commonlyknown as Chilean Guava)for some time, so I’veadded threeplantstomygarden.
Now, all Ineed to do is sitback andenjoy thelastweeks of summer!
Ilovemaking my ownfertiliser from nettles ,which grow in abundancein thehedgerows
PER FECT LAWN EDGES : WILKINSONSWORD cuts without thestrain
Aneatlawncan
Reliably sharpfor precise cuts
Bladesharpness andstrengthmatter, andWilkinsonSword ofers high-quality blades that can easily slicethroughthick growth.Bothshears use 17cm,high-quality carbonsteel blades whichhaveanon-stick coatingwhich prevents thegrass cuttings from buildingupand cloggingaroundthe choppingmechanism.
Comfortablylightweight to use
WilkinsonSword is atrusted name forgardening tools, whichofers a comprehensiverange of toolsand products forlawncare, patio maintenance, digging, andcultivation.
Tackle theTricky Spots with Ease
WilkinsonSword Long Handled Lawn Shears have horizontalbladesthatcut across the topofthe grass. They arethe perfect solution fortouch-ups, cuttinghard-to -reach patches, andareas that aretoo awkwardfor amower. They give youprecision andcontrol right whereyou need it most.
Create Perfect Lawn Borders withConfidence
WilkinsonSword Long Handled Edging Shears aredesignedtogiveyour lawn crisp, cleanedges that mowers can’t achieve. These shears cut verticallyand aregreat forcutting alongpatios, driveways, flowerbeds, and garden borders to definesharp,professionallookinglines with precision
Built to last,the shears have 820mm steel tubularhandles providingalightweight yetwell-balanced, sturdy framefor all-day use withoutstrain. Theergonomic, non-slip handlesoferacomfortable grip,reducing fatigue andmaking trimmingalong borders andpaths feel naturaland joint-friendly.
Gloves
Known forits fantastic variety of high-qualitygloves, Town &Countryprovideawide selectionofall-purpose options andglovesspeciallydesignedfor specific gardeningtasks.
With weedspopping up everywhere this season, theWeedmasterBamboo glovesand Weedmaster Plus glovesare amust-have. Purpose-built, they provide protection, comfort, anddurability
Weedmaster gloves help shield handsfrompricklyplants, providegrip assistance, andformabarrier to irritants.
TheWeedmaster Bamboo gloves arebuilt forthe fineworkand provideprecision at your fingertips. They areaperfect eco-conscious option because they are made from naturallyantibacterial and hypoallergenicbamboo fabric.The fabric feelslikesoftbrushedcotton. Atough latexcoatingonthe palmsand fingers provides superiorgrip andprotection, whilethe breathable bamboo back keeps thehands cool andcomfortable.These glovesare washable,reusable, andideal forgardeners whowantperformance with sustainability in mind
As an alternativetolatex,the Weedmaster Plus gloves use anitrilecoating on the palmsand fingers. This hasanadjustable wriststrap to keep out debris andto providea secure fit.The glovesare availableina range of colours andsizes.
Town &Country weedingglove range
ilkinson Sword a trusted
Long Handled Lawn Shears
Long Handled Edging Shears
ME!
FR EE SEEDS!
Adds omei nterest to yo ur plot with these stunningveg va riet ies
Cucumber ‘WhiteWonde r’
This heirloom varietyisa generous cropper, offeringunusual-looking creamywhite fruits, whichhavea slightly tangyflavour.The plants can be growneitheroutdoors, or undercover,soare a greatchoicefor manygrowers.
Sowindoors in small potsofgood-quality seed compost. Waterwelland placethe pots in awarm position(temperatures of 21-24˚C areideal).
Keep thecompost moist, andseedlings will usually appear in sevento14days.
When theplantshavedeveloped threeorfour ‘true’ leaves, transplant them into 12cm pots andgrowonin cooler –but notcold–conditions.
Graduallyaccustom youngplantstooutside conditions (a processcalled hardeningoff ), before plantingout 60cmapart.Ensurethe risk of frost haspassed.
Pinch outthe growingtip of each plantwhensix leaves have formed. This helpstoencourage side shoots to form
Alternatively, youcan sowoutdoors, directly into finelypreparedsoil, wherethe plants aretocrop. Put twoseedsper position, andallow 60cm between your rows.
When largeenoughtohandle, thin to leavethe strongerplant from each pair to grow on
Cutthe cucumbers from thestemwithasharp knife once they have reachedthe desiredsizeand colour
Radi sh ‘Ca ndela di Fuoco’
Perfect forenjoyinginfresh andzingy salads, thisheritage radish variety haslongred roots, whichare real showstoppers!Itisa reliable variety whichcrops generously –and what’s more,offers agenerouspunch of vitaminC to boot! What’snot to love?
Kale ‘Red Russ ia n’
This gorgeouscoloured kaleisa real eye- catcheronthe plot.Perfect for useasbabyleavesfor atenderand tasty additiontodishes, they arean excellentsource of vitamins Cand A. It is possibletogrowthisvarietyin containers, so is afantastic choice, whatever size of plot youhave.
Sowyour ‘Candela di Fuoco’seeds outdoors1.5cm deep directly where youwantthemtocrop. Sowintofinelyprepared soil whichhas alreadybeen watered. Allow23cmbetween rows.
Anysowings made earlier in theseason maybenefitfromclocheprotectionuntil thethreatof frost haspassed.
Seedlings usuallyappear in sevento 10 days.
Sowyour kaleseedsoutdoorsintofinely prepared,moist soil. Allow45cm between your rows.
Youcan expect seedlings to appear in 14-28days.
Thin to 45cm apart if youare growing on to full size,but no thinning is necessary if only baby leaves arerequired.
Keep thesoilconsistentlymoist
Regular sowings made everytwo to
Waterwelluntil plants areestablished to encourage them to putonhealthy growth
Youwill only need to thin your radishes outifthe plants areovercrowded.
Regular sowings made everytwo to threeweeks (known as successional sowing) will ensureacontinuous supply throughout theharvestingperiod.
Gently leverthe rootsfromthe soil when they reachabout10cminlength.
threeweeks will ensureacontinuous supplyofdelicious little leaves.
HarvestbabyleavesfromJune. Alternatively, youcan sowindoors, 0.5cm deep into atrayofgood-quality compost.Keep warm andmoist (a temperatureofapprox. 15˚C is ideal).
Transplant 5cm apart to othertrays when theseedlings arelarge enough to handle
Graduallyaccustom youngplantsto outsideconditions(avoiding anylate frosts in theearlier part of theseason), beforeplantingout 45cm apart in rows wheretheyare to crop
HarvestmatureplantsfromSeptember to March.
Car rot ‘Rothi ld’
This early maincrop varietyofcarrot is quick-growing, andproducesroots whichare uniforminappearance andofa good quality,makingthem afantastic option if youare newto carrotcultivation!Theyare packed with antioxidants, andperfect foruse in awidevarietyofdishes.
Sowoutdoors, thinly, in thespotwhere they aretocrop. Sowseeds1.5cm deep, directly into finely-prepared soil which hasalready been watered. Allow30cm between rows.
Earlysowings maybenefitfromcloche protectionifthe risk of frost hasn’t quite passed yet.
Seedlings usuallyappear in 14-21days, so keep your eyeout forthose telltale green fronds pokingout of theearth
Thin by harvestingyoungcarrots evenlyfromthe row, allowingremainder to grow on.These thinnings can be used in saladsorsandwiches, so don’thaveto be consignedtothe compost heap! Waterwelluntil plants areestablished,
andmakeregular sowings every threeweeks foracontinuous supply of youngroots throughout theseason–andto avoidgluts.
Rootscan be lifted in autumn.Becareful nottosplit theroots with your garden fork,asdamagedroots won’tkeep and will need to be usedfirst.Removesoiland storeindry sand.
Lettuce ‘Cri sp M int’
This crisp,sweet lettuce varietyhas gorgeousmint-green leaves(as the namesuggests!), with alongcropping season. It is an heirloom type which is packed with vitamins andwill be awelcomeaddition to your garden –andyour salads!
Sowyour‘CrispMint’ seedsoutdoors thinlywhere they aretocrop, 1.5cm deep, directly into finelypreparedsoilwhich hasalready been watered. Allow25cm between rows.
Anysowings youmakeinthe earlier part of thesowingwindowmay benefit from cloche protection to preventdamage from late frosts.
Seedlings usuallyappear in sevento14 days,sokeep an eyeonyour soil! Once theseedlings arelarge enoughto handle,thinthemout to 15cm apart,giving theremaining plants adequate spaceto grow on
Waterwelluntil theplantsare established.
Regularsowings made everytwo to threeweeks will ensureacontinuous supplyofdelicious lettuceleavesright throughthe season
Harvestfor usewitha sharpknife
One of thebranchesofmy ‘Victoria’plumhas gone silvery –isthis silver leaf disease? Thereare twokinds of leaf silveringinplums;false silver leaf whichisseldomfatal and theverycommonand damaging fungaldisease.
Falsesilverleafisdue to stressincludingdrought,somight be quiteprevalent this year.False silver leaf oftenaffects thewhole tree at once,with, crucially, no staining of thewood.
gets to the bottom of some
Fungal silver leaf typically infects andkillsbranchesone by onespreadingthrough thetree. Theunderlyingwood is stained brownbythe fungus. Sawingoff theaffected branch will reveal theinternalstaining, andpruning
must severthe branch at apoint wherethere is no staining,ideally 15cm or more belowthe last of thestained wood. With luck this will preventspreadand save the tree. Howeveroncethe fungus enters thetrunk the tree will have to be replaced. Silverleafbracket fungi can arisefrominfectedwood in late summer. Thesehavea whitishtop andporouspurplish underside. These should be sawn outtoprevent spread to other trees.Infectionisvia wounds includingpruning wounds which is whygardeners areencouraged to pruneplums before the endof July when thewoundswillheal beforethe bracketfungi release thebulk of their spores.
Overwintering bulb onions,‘Toughball’ or ‘Senshyu Yellow’for example,can be sown wheretheyare to grow andwillthencrop in early summerthe followingyear in southern regionsofBritain wherethe soil is free draining in winter. They areusually sown in late August aiming for15-20cm tall plants by October Sets areeasierastheyneedno thinning norany summerweeding,and
My plumfruits are oozing akind of jelly or gum–isthis serious?
This is called ‘gummosis’whenajelly-likematerial appears on theoutside andalsothe inside of thefru used to be aserious problem formanufacturers of jam as on cookingthe gumforms obnoxious slimylumps in thejam. Home jam makers andplumbottlers will discardany gummed fruits of course.
Thecauses forgummosis on plumsare notfully understood. It is believedtobearesponsetostress, whichthisyear is most likely down to heat anddry soils. Thegum mayhelpsealwoundstothe stone whichprotects thetreebut makesthe fruitunpalatab Fortunately, usuallyonlya proportionoffruitsare affected with it.
Insect anddisease damage to developing fruits fluctuatingsoilmoisturecan also all be factors.
Thereisnoremedybut improvingdrainagearo the trees or plantingnew plumsonaraised moundi gardensprone to flooding. In drier gardensremovin grassand otherplantsbeneath thespreadofthe branches mayhelptoprevent thestressthatcan le to gumming.
Bacterial canker,analmost universalbut seldom fataldisease of plum andrelated trees, causes gum exudates on trunks andbranchesbut is notlinkedt fruitgummosis.Unfortunatelygrowers have to tolera bacterial canker as no remedies areavailable.
also most otheronion cropswillhave been harvestedbySeptember and won’tinfectthe over-wintering crop It is probably best to gather anduse anyspringonionsbeforesowingthe overwinteredonions. In areaswhere allium leaf minerand onionfly occur, covering thenewly sown onions with insect proofmeshiswise.
Sowingincelltrays is also possible, butslightlyearliersowingisneededas theplantsshouldbeset out in September when thesoilisstill warm enoughfor good root growth
My tatsoiand other Asiangreensare beingeaten by littleblackslug-like creatures. What are they andcan Iget rid of them withoutspraying? This sounds likethe turnipsawflywhose larvae,often called ‘slugworms’can occur on cabbagefamilycrops in summer.The fly itself is only 8mm long so is seldom noticed. They layeggsinearly summer,followed by thegreenish-blacklarvaethatcan be up to 18mm long that cansometimes strip youngplantsofall their foliage. These pupateinthe soil with thepupae givingrise to thenextgeneration. Therecan be three generations per summer with thelastone emerginginspring.
Until recent years theturnipsawflywas uncommon but is nowmoreprevalent for unknown reasons. Amazingly, this tinyfly
can migratelongdistances andlatesummer populations can be boosted by incomers from thecontinent
Quite oftenvigorousplantscan outgrow thedamagesowatering andfeeding, seaweed fertiliser forexample,isthe first response. When watering, consider using apowerful jetofwater that dislodgesthe slugwormsbut does notdamageplantsor splatter soil.
As afinal resort,sprayingwithasoapor oilbased product will give some controland leavenoresiduesthatcan harm wildlife
Some growers liketocover their pakchoi andsimilar cropswithfineinsect proof mesh or garden fleecethroughout the crop’s life. This will excludeturnipsawfly andalsocabbage root fly, butterflies andother unwelcomeinsects, but may encourage slugsinwhich case adrench with anti-slug nematodes can help and notleave any chemical residues
Until recent yearsthe turnip sawfly was uncommon butisnow more prevalent for unknown reasons
RHSGardenBridgewater
Rightplant,rightplace
Saturday 9thAugust
DuringthisRHS GardenBridgewater workshop,wewill look at arange of plants suitable fordifficult places, full sun, shade andwet soil conditions,aswellashints andtips on howtoget theperfect match between plantand garden situation.
Learning howtoassessyour garden site is thefirst importantstepinfindingthe right home foryour newplant so that it achieves itsfull foliage, floweringand fruiting potential. With biodiversityat thecoreof horticultural best practice, thecourse will also highlightplantswhich encourage wildlifeintothe garden,and maybewecan even convince youthatsomeweedscan stay if they areinthe rightplace. rhs.org.uk/gardens/rhs-gardenbridgewater
Diary dates
Lookingfor some inspiration? Here’s what’s coming up at the RHSgardens this month
Urbangardendesign
Saturday 23rdAugust
Urbangardens in Manchester andSalford arepart of thelandscape. They come with theirown challengesbut also huge benefits to us as individualsand to the landscape andecology of our cities.This half dayworkshopled by your tutor Richard Easton will coverthe specific qualities of theseunique spaces,while lookingatbasic design principles and leaveyou fizzingwithinspiration to then go on to tackle your ownsmall garden rhs.org.uk/gardens/rhs-gardenbridgewater
RHSHarlowCarr
Trees in garden design (walkand talk)
Saturday 23rdAugust
As aformerRHS exhibitorand past project managerfor theBBC seriesGarden
Rescue,Guy Petheram hasawealthof experience in garden design.Thistalk will look at whytrees aresuchimportant plants to includeinour gardens, andhow we can use them even in small ones. Learning aboutthemcan change our appreciation andunderstandingofthe spaces we share with them
rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr
Beekeepingtasterday
Saturday 30th August
Areyou interested in learning about beekeeping? Areyou lookingfor a hobbyorjust love honey? These areall greatreasons to explorethe wonder of beekeepingwithlike-minded people! Abeekeepingtasterday provides the perfect opportunitytodiscoverwhatis involved in keepingbees.Harrogate and RiponBeekeepers’Association. Topics
