"Long, languorous days of August"

Quote from “A Summer Siesta” Sister Mary Blanche

What seeds to sow in August.

There are encouraging signs from the Met Office that, after the cool start to July. the weather in August will warm up. So before I head off to the beach or seek a secluded space out of the sun, I need to give my garden some care and attention. Whilst long established plants can survive irregular rainfall and longer spells without water, my vegetables in general benefit from a good soak, especially runner beans, cucumbers, leafy greens, courgettes and leeks. Vital too is keeping any emerging seedlings well-watered. I use my grass mowings between rows as a mulch after watering –straw or homemade leaf mould or compost can be used too.

So although you might not be thinking of sowing afresh, some that can be made now would provide catch crops of different salad leaves before the frosts or some tender vegetables for Christmas or spring cabbages for harvesting next year.

I'm sowing winter salads either direct or in modules for planting out later to see me through the autumn and early winter.; hardier varieties of lettuce such as Arctic King, plus wild rocket, chervil, flat leaved parsley, coriander, land cress, sorrel, winter purslane (claytonia) and corn salad.

In the autumn I’m thinking of oriental stir fries, so need to start off now - pak choi, Chinese cabbage, mizuna, mustards and chopsuey greens. Sowing oriental leaves, rocket, spinach, pak choi, kohl rabi and turnips this month means they are less likely to bolt as they mature in the cooler weeks ahead. Spring cabbages, spinach, winter hardy spring onions as well as Japanese onions Senshyu Yellow or Toughball from late August will overwinter for harvest in early spring. Some crops are fully hardy such as kale, chicory, winter radish (mooli), mustard spinach, swiss chard and spinach beet to give some sustenance into the hungry gap before the new crop of spring vegetables.

If you have cleared a patch, don’t leave it bare whilst you’re away. Sow some green manures – fast growing these help suppress weeds, retain moisture and nutrients although they require chopping down before setting seed (and digging back in). Clover, trefoil, buckwheat, phacelia, grazing rye and winter tares all provide varying benefits depending on your situation and soil type.

A good time to sow perennials, biennials and hardy annuals especially if you have a sheltered corner to over winter. Read up on Sue’s blog Perennials, Biennials and Annuals. For Wildflowers. yellow rattle sown in the mix helps suppress grass growth and allow wildflowers to establish. Nick has written all about growing yellow rattle from seed - see here