HILLINGDON ALLOTMENT AND HORTICULTURAL FEDERATION

Recommendations

Info

� If you are going on holiday this month, remember to ask someone to keep harvesting your fruit and vegetables, either for themselves or your freezer. August Action Plan � When harvesting potatoes, take care to remove all tubers as any left will sprout next year and can spread disease. � Keep harvesting the courgettes, don‘t let them get large as they will think that the job is done and they can stop trying to reproduce. About 10cm (4 inches) is the perfect size for harvesting. � It‘s your last chance to sow beetroot for an autumn harvest. Sow seed directly in the ground in fertile soil. � Water tomato plants daily and increase feeding to ensure healthy fruit. Remove any yellow leaves at the base by snapping off the stems. � Pick carrots as soon as they‘re big enough to eat. Choose undamaged roots and store in a cool, dry place. � Continue to sow hardy salad seeds for a tasty crop over winter. Mulch around plants to keep the moisture in. � Don‘t let high winds damage the sweetcorn, support with a spade of soil around the base and tread well down. � Keep the greenhouse ventilated – hang sticky yellow cards as fly traps and perhaps shade the glass with a whitewash. � Keep an eye on brassicas and remove any caterpillar eggs from the underside of leaves. � Use string across the cabbage patch to deter hungry birds from nibbling the leaves. � Turn compost to distribute heat and speed up the ‗rotting‘ process. If it is very dry, you can add a little water (urine is very good especially if you have a good aim or a big bucket) but do not soak. � Keep an eye on crops that bolt in the hot dry weather such as lettuce and brassicas. � Raise the cutting height of the mower. Taller grass cools the roots and helps to keep the moisture in the soil longer. � Take care not to cross the lawn in bare feet as there are plenty of bees and wasps around now enjoying the clover flowers! � If you have oregano and marjoram flowering in the garden, now is the best time for drying – cut the stems, tie with string, and hang upside down somewhere dry, well ventilated and dark (airing cupboard is good) for about a week, then store in jars for winter. � You can do a similar thing with flowers such as lavender to make drawer scent bags or potpourri. � Continue to dead head flowers and pick pea pods to encourage further blooms. 8
Careful handling STORING YOUR HARVEST Careful handling is essential. Avoid bruising - once harvested, crops have no means of repairing any damage. Select the best Do not store anything that has broken skin or shows any sign of pest or disease. Storage conditions Air circulation is important to provide oxygen and carry away the heat and moisture produced. Crops have different requirements for temperature and humidity (see below). Location The storage location must be frost-free, pest free, rain-proof and at a constant temperature. A garden shed or garage can be used, but may need extra insulation in severe weather. Frequent health checks Check stored produce weekly. Remove anything showing signs of decay to prevent rots from spreading. Vegetable storage � Carrots, parsnips, celeriac, beetroot, turnip, swede, kohlrabi, horseradish, salsify: These crops all require the same conditions. Harvest carefully, taking care to avoid skin damage. Do not wash unless grown in very heavy soil or pest/disease damage is suspected. Harvest on a cool day or cool before storage. Remove leaves by twisting off close to crown. Place in layers in shallow crates/boxes separated with a damp packing material such as leafmould, sand, sieved soil or sawdust (from untreated wood only). Ideal temperature: 0°- 4°C. � Potatoes: Require slightly different conditions from other root crops. They must be kept dark to prevent them turning green and protected from low temperatures. If stored below 5°C the starch turns to sugar, giving them a sweet taste when eaten. Harvest in dry, cool conditions if possible. Remove any damaged tubers; store good ones in thick paper sacks closed at the neck to conserve moisture. Do not use plastic sacks - the humidity will be too high, which stimulates sprouting. Give extra insulation before weather becomes very cold. Ideal temperature: 5°- 10°C. � Onions/garlic: Lift garlic when only 4-6 outer leaves have turned yellow. Leave onions longer, until the tops have completely died away. Do not bend tops over prematurely. Both need to be dried until skins 9
Page 1 and 2: HILLINGDON ALLOTMENT AND HORTICULTU
Page 3 and 4: � Be aware that if you decide to
Page 5 and 6: GO GREEN by C.Bottello This summer
Page 7: JOB’S TO DO July Action Plan �
Page 11 and 12: 1. Buy/find a baby bath, washing up
Page 13: MEETINGS Federation evening meeting

HILLINGDON ALLOTMENT AND HORTICULTURAL FEDERATION

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?