It is August, the summer's last stand

Whilst watering and weeding take priority to keep the plants in good condition for ripening and picking, there should be opportunity for sowing for quick crops, and later in the month preparing for the change of season,

I have been enjoying my harvests of peas and beans, courgettes and tomatoes as well as herbs,  berries and currants. My daughter has a greengage tree which I am allowed to access so I have enjoyed those golden fruits picked straight from the tree.

As gaps appear I'm thinking about what I could sow. August is typically a hot dry month, lettuce and spinach don't germinate well in the sun baked soil, though might do better in a shady corner. Other leafy greens such as kale (my favourite) and chard do better, and even later in the month to avoid bolting in the heat - mustard greens, pak choi, tatsoi and rocket. I will start them off in trays so I can control watering and shading the young seedlings and protect from marauding predators (slugs and snails and pigeons). Spring cabbages are another to start off in trays. 

Root vegetables can be sown direct beets, radish and turnips.. Likewise autumn sown onions and shallots. Garlic bulbs too if you have some.  There is a small stock of potatoes to plant now to grow in pots for late crops. 

Hardy annuals - calendula, cornflower and poppies sown this month will overwinter and give a display early next year. Remove any spent annuals that you don't want to self seed.. Cacti, cyclamen and coleus can be started off indoors for display in the house.