Kitchen Garden Magazine

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Jobs for September

Harvesting is the main job this month, but there are plenty of crops with growing still to do and even a few to sow. The new catalogues for 2009 are arriving now, too, so you can start making plans for the year ahead

Fruit in brief

• Search the 2009 catalogues and order new fruit as soon as possible to get the best choice.
• Prepare the ground for new plantings by digging in plenty of well-rotted organic matter and improving drainage where necessary.
• Continue to harvest perpetual fruiting strawberries.
• Harvest early grapes as soon as they are ripe.
• Figs should be checked every day and ripe fruit cut and used straight away. They are delicious if drizzled with honey and cooked on the barbecue wrapped in foil, then served with a creamy Greek yoghurt.

TOP TIPS

• Harvest the last of the broad beans, freezing any excesses for the winter months. Order seeds for an autumn sowing.
• June-sown peas should be ready for harvesting now as should mangetout and asparagus peas. All are best picked when young and regular harvesting will ensure a continued crop of tender pods.
• The first leeks can be harvested while still young and tender and before diseases such as leek rust become too disfiguring.
• Lift bulb onions as the leaves begin to yellow to hasten the drying process (see page 22 for more information).
• Sow a batch of mixed salad leaves for winter and spring use and cover with cloches.
• Continue to cut globe artichokes. These are best cut while still small and tender and while the scales are still tightly closed.

IN DEPTH: Harvest early apples

Early apples such as 'Discovery' and 'Laxton's Fortune' will be ripening now. They do not store very well and are best eaten straight from the tree if possible.

If the fruit comes away easily from the tree when cupped in the palm and gently lifted and twisted it is ready, if not leave it for a few more days.

Once picked, the fruit should be placed very carefully into a plastic bowl or canvas bag to prevent bruising.
Pick up any windfalls and either juice them or make use of them in the kitchen.

If you haven't already done so consider hanging a wasp trap in the tree to minimise damage. However, birds are the usual instigators of the damage, so regular picking is the best way to keep both at bay unless your tree is small enough to net.

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

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