Gardeners have been urged to conduct regular checks on these two popular vegetables throughout the month of August to encourage a healthy growth and production
As the UK has been graced with hot temperatures throughout this summer – so now more than ever it’s a must to stay on top of gardening tasks. With the unpredictable weather forecast, plants and flowers need to be well-taken care of. Upcoming August is an important month for gardening, as it marks the end of the summer and the approach of the autumn season.
It’s the time for tidying up the garden and focusing on harvesting for the colder months ahead – so actually, there’s a lot of work to do in the garden. Gardeners’ World released a list of activities to complete, highlighting the importance of two growing vegetables.
The site wrote: “Be vigilant for signs of tomato and potato blight, removing affected plants immediately to prevent spread.”
Keep an eye on potatoes and tomatoes
For those who are unaware, as reported by the RHS, the blight in tomatoes and potatoes is considered a devastating disease that attacks the foliage and fruit of tomatoes, causing them to rot. It usually happens in warm, wet weather conditions.
The month of August is the hottest month of the year, with some regions reaching higher temperatures than others. But one thing about the UK is that you never know. Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to any outdoor spaces.
Late summer is the time when potatoes and tomatoes are most likely to getting permanently damaged by fast-acting blight. So, you better watch out.
Blights are common in August for potatoes and tomatoes. Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk, also commented: “Blight on tomatoes begins in large brown spots on the stems. Once you see this, pull off the infected plants.”
He added: “For potatoes, blight appears in small dark patches on the edges of the potato leaves. Immediately cut off the top growth to prevent the infectious blight from spreading, then wait a fortnight before harvesting them.”
This can be resolved by ensuring that gardeners don’t plant tomatoes and potatoes in the same soil, and also that plants receive the appropriate air circulation, as well as other nutrients to survive. Most importantly, regular inspections are key to ensuring healthy growth and production in the upcoming months.
When it comes to gardening, it can get quite time-consuming. On the other hand, it’s a rewarding task that brings you a touch of greenery – and even some fresh produce in between.