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Under cover

August is a month of bountiful harvests, with many under-cover crops in full production. It is also a time when many people go on holiday. Never just abandon a greenhouse or polytunnel at this time of year, as heat and drought can wreak havoc. Try to find a friendly neighbour who will gladly water and ventilate in return for gathering some of that wonderful harvest

Tomatoes

Plants should be dripping with ripening fruit this month. Harvest regularly and remember that you can freeze tomatoes whole if you have a glut. Keep nipping out sideshoots and watch for the ones that grow from the base of the stem. If plants hit against the glass or polythene, you can cut off the growing point. I usually let the stems ramble on, however, as it seems a waste to stop plants after only a few trusses. Unstopped plants may seem unruly, but they will crop for a lot longer. Feed with a liquid feed such as seaweed or comfrey every seven days. If plants are crowded, or fruit is overshadowed, cut off some of the lower leaves to allow light and air to penetrate. Keep the soil damp if plants are to produce plenty of blemish-free fruits.

Cucumbers

Stems may well have reached the top of the structure this month. Simply turn them so they grow back down, without breaking, and your bumper crop of cucumbers can continue. Stems do need some support, so keep twirling them around strings or canes, or simply tie them in. Plants in growing-bags will need regular feeding and plenty of water to keep these thirsty plants producing. If growing-bag compost is depleted, simply punch a few holes down through the base, so roots can feed off the soil below (you can even lift the bag carefully, then lay it back down on a layer of compost or manure). Remove male flowers every day if you haven’t grown all female plants.

Peppers

The first green peppers will be ready for harvesting in August. Pick them green, or leave them on the plants to ripen and change colour.
Peppers like plenty of sunshine so don’t grow them next to tall crops which cast a shadow. Poor air circulation, low temperatures and lack of sun are the main reasons for peppers rotting on the plant. Feed with a weak liquid feed every 10 days while fruit is swelling.
Support plants that are carrying a heavy crop, or stems may snap.
Chilli peppers take longer to ripen than sweet ones, but the first may be ready by the end of August. Beware: the redder they are, and the more sun they were exposed to, the hotter they will be!

Aubergines

Keep pollinating flowers by hand if fruit hasn’t set. If there was good fruit set last month then you can harvest the firm purple fruit in August. Ripe fruit should be shiny and firm to the touch. Try not to spray water over leaves and fruit if possible, as aubergines like a dry environment. Unfortunately red spider mite likes aubergines, so you have to strive for a humidity balance!

For more advice, see this month's issue, available to buy online!

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