August 2023 — Monty Don
TAKE CUTTINGSAs August progresses semi ripe cuttings taken from present season’s wooden that has began to harden off are more and more obtainable and in addition to more and more weak to root shortly. Regularly select healthful, sturdy, straight progress free from any flowers or flower buds. Upon getting taken provides from the plant and positioned it all through the polythene bag go and pot them up instantly. Strip off all decrease leaves and side shoots in order that solely an inch or loads a lot much less of foliage stays. Lower the naked stem to dimension with a pointy knife or secateurs and bury it in a container of very gritty or sandy compost and even pure perlite. To form good roots the plant doesn’t want any vitamin apart from oxygen and water so no matter provides you place the plant into must be free, drain efficiently and under no circumstances dry out. As shortly as a result of the roots are traditional and likewise you see indicators of progress then it should begin to want better vitamin and want potting into better compost. Put this someplace heat and light-weight however not in full picture voltaic or on a south-facing windowsill because it’d scorch. Water it efficiently after which shield it moist with a day-to-day spray from a hand mister to assist cease the leaves drying out before new roots have time to form. Most cuttings taken presently of yr will take between 4 and 6 weeks to produce viable roots however you perceive that the roots have traditional everytime you see updated new progress or, when lifting the pot, see skinny roots displaying from the underside of the pot. In the mean time the cuttings may be away from the pot and potted on individually into updated peat-free potting compost and put apart over winter before planting out subsequent spring. In principal it’s best to take cuttings all through the morning whereas the plant is full of moisture however in practise it’s one issue greatest accomplished as and if you end up minded to do it.SOWING AUTUMN SALAD CROPSSow hardy salad crops paying homage to ‘Rouge d’hiver’ and ‘Winter Density’ lettuce and Corn Salad, Rocket, Land Cress, Purslane, Mizuna and Mibuna now for harvesting in October and November. If in case you should have a greenhouse or tunnel they may moreover remaining by the use of winter. Every sow them into plugs that may very well be transplanted as seedlings or sow direct in rows. Skinny the seedlings as they emerge and shield them weeded and well-watered.PRUNING LAVENDERTo keep away from woody, leggy vegetation, lavender have to be pruned yearly. The simplest time to do this is as quickly because of the flowers begin to fade, which, relying on the fluctuate, may be any time between midsummer and the best of August. However don’t anticipate the seed heads to form or the flowers to point brown because it’s important permit the utmost timeframe for regrowth before winter. Reduce onerous to an exquisite compact form however you could must depart some new shoots on every stem – lavender will typically not regrow from naked wooden. These new shoots will develop quick and supply a sexy and healthful cowl to guard the plant in winter and supply the premise of subsequent yr’s current. COLLECTING SEEDGrowing your favorite vegetation from seed is simple and nearly with out value. Not solely will this provide you with dozens of free vegetation for future years nevertheless in addition to spares to produce or swap with family and friends and August is the time to begin out amassing seed out of your yard. Use brown paper envelopes – A5 is the thought dimension – and every rigorously cut back the seed heads and upend them into the envelopes, seed head and all or else place the envelop over the seed head, seal it after which snip the stem off and retailer it the other method up. Label every envelope clearly with the date, title of the plant and, ideally, the place all through the yard, and retailer them in a cool, dry place. After every week or two the seeds have to be dry and may them be sieved, cleaned and saved in sealed packets. For long term storage a plastic tub with a great lid saved all through the fridge is appropriate.
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TAKE CUTTINGSAs August progresses semi ripe cuttings taken from present season’s wooden that has began to harden off are more and more obtainable and in addition to more and more weak to root shortly. Regularly select healthful, sturdy, straight progress free from any flowers or flower buds. Upon getting taken provides…