Gardening Magazine

Late August Update

By Mwillis
Late August is a time of year when I find there is not much that needs doing in the garden apart from harvesting. I thought I'd just give you a quick tour...
The brassicas (PSB, Cabbage "Mira" and Brokali "Apollo") are growing away nicely. I have staked the 3 big PSB plants in the middle, and apart from the occasional watering there is little else that needs doing to them.
Late August update
The four "Mira" cabbages were welcomed avidly by the local slug population when first planted out, so their outer leaves are a bit "lacy".
Late August update
However, once I applied a few slug-pellets the situation improved markedly and they are now beginning to heart-up quite nicely.
Late August update
The Brussels Sprouts are still getting taller. The one nearest the camera here is unsurprisingly the tallest, because it gets more sunshine than the others. They are all shaded to some extent by the overhanging tree.
Late August update
Tallest at the left, shortest at the right - Go!
Late August update
My Celeriac is growing at an agonisingly slow pace. Will it ever get big enough to be worth using, I wonder? I keep feeding it with general-purpose liquid fertiliser and watering it copiously. What else can I do?
Late August update
The Leeks look healthy enough, but not yet big. That's OK by me, because they are intended for cropping in the Winter, so they have plenty of time yet to put on some weight.
Late August update
The beans are doing a lot better than last year. Although I like the Runners best, I'm impressed with the yield from the "Kew Blue" French beans. Better than I had expected.
Late August update
The Cucumbers, on he other hand, have not been very good this year, producing a very modest number of fruits. A stark contrast to the gluts I have had a few times in the past.
Late August update
Still, having enough cucumbers is better than having too many, in my opinion. I don't like pickled cucumbers and I don't know any other way of preserving them. Maybe there are more to come too...?
Late August update
As recently reported in another post, the tomatoes are cropping well now. This heart-shaped beauty is a "Larisa".
Late August update
Cordon-grown or indeterminate tomato plants can get very tall if you let them, so I generally pinch out their stems when they reach the tops of their canes, but even so many of them produce 5 or 6 trusses of fruit. Some of these will not set in time to ripen before the first frosts, so it is actually best to remove the top one or two and let the plant concentrate on ripening a smaller number of fruit. This truss is on "Primavera" and is ripening well.
Late August update
But this truss is further up the same plant, and I think it is unlikely that it will set fruit - which is a shame, isn't it, because it's massive.
Late August update
It's not all veg in Mark's Veg Plot these days, so now let me show you some flowers too...

Late August update

Echinacea "Pom Pom White"


Late August update

Verbena Bonariensis


Late August update

Rudbeckia Fulgida "Goldsturm"


Late August update

Dahlia "Bishop of Llandaff"


Late August update

Helenium


Late August update

Coreopsis


Late August update

Hydrangea


And finally, this one, which is both a flower and a vegetable:

Late August update

Runner Bean "Enorma"


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