I think of August as ratatouille month, as there are always glorious gluts of tomatoes and courgettes at this time of year. I grow tomatoes in my greenhouse, but some varieties will grow equally well outside in warmer parts of the country. If grown outdoors, they can – like potatoes – be susceptible to blight. Each year, I try to grow a mixture of tall cordon beefsteak or garden tomatoes, and smaller bush-type cherry tomatoes – sometimes in different colours. This year, I’ve grown ‘Burlesque’, ‘Moneymaker’ and ‘Golden Crown’, which should give me a long period of cropping, with the cherry types ripening first. The tall cordon types should be tied to canes as they grow. It is good practice to pinch out or cut off all the side shoots as they develop, in order to concentrate the plant’s efforts into producing more fruit, rather than stems and leaves. Once the plants reach the top of the greenhouse, usually by the end of August, I cut off the growing shoot at the top, which encourages more fruit production. Grown in large pots or growbags in a green-house, tomatoes need regular watering; little and often is best, as sporadic watering can result in the fruits splitting, or blossom end rot, which manifests as a dark brown blotch on the underside of the tomatoes. As the tomatoes ripen, harvest them regularly, pulling them off the plant with their stalks.
Other kitchen garden tasks for August
- Sow a quick-maturing salad mix for winter greens
- Prune espaliered or restricted fruit trees
- Tidy up strawberries and pot up runners
- Sow green manures on any of your beds that have finished cropping
- Keep harvesting all your vegetables regularly in order to keep them cropping.
