Will August mean that summer will start at last?? With Dahlias, Gladioli and Hydrangeas all at their best (a bit slug eaten), I hope some flowers will be ok for the village show.

On the vegetable patch slugs are rampant eating their way through whole crops and Blight on the potatoes and tomatoes already. If you see brown patches on your potatoes remove all foliage and burn, use the potatoes as needed, they will not store well if they have had Blight. The environ mesh is working well protecting the leeks from leek moth and carrots from carrot fly. Onions and shallots can be lifted as the foliage dies back and once dry store for the winter when they are expensive in the shops.

Jobs for August:

1: Pick fast maturing vegetables such as courgettes and beans to encourage further cropping.

2: As soon as lavender has finished flowering remove flowers back to healthy growth, this will keep your plants compact.

3: Give your hedges a final cut later in the month.

4: Regularly liquid feed pots and baskets to keep your plants healthy also keep on dead heading.

5: Encourage butterflies and bees into the garden by planting Echinop’s and buddleia.

The Annual show on Saturday 4th August is not far off and we have had no entries for hanging baskets, vegetable gardens and front gardens, so next year we will return to our tried and tested method of finding the best displays in Broughton.

The Summer BBQ was a great success it was dry but cold so we moved it indoors and a great night was had by all with an amazing amount of food to choose from.

I hear from Jim McDonald that his sweet pea named “Mary Mac” has been given the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It has pure white flowers and a strong perfume making it ideal for weddings.

I hope to see you all at the annual show and that despite the weather you have lots to enter!!

Mr TOM LONG-POD        FACEBOOK ME: TOM LONG-POD