Now it’s late summer, it’s time to start thinking about what we should be doing in our gardens over the next few months. Even though summer is a time for relaxation and enjoying the fruits of our labour, it’s also an excellent opportunity to prepare for the seasons ahead.
Late summer sowing is a fantastic way to extend your harvest and enjoy fresh vegetables well into autumn and winter. Moreover, planning now can ensure a vibrant burst of colour come springtime. So let’s get our green fingers ready and dive into the world of late summer planting.
Vegetables for Late Summer Sowing
Winter Salads
Now is a great time to sow winter-hardy salads like Winter Gem lettuce or Winter Density. They are perfect for cropping throughout the colder months.
Spring Onions
Varieties like White Lisbon Winter Hardy can be sown now for harvesting in spring.
Broad Beans
Aquadulce Claudia is an excellent variety to sow in late summer for early crops next spring.
Peas
Meteor peas are hardy enough to withstand winter weather if sown now.
Garlic
Although not traditionally sown until autumn, you can get a head start by planting garlic cloves in late August or early September.
Remember, these vegetables will need some protection during winter frosts – cloches or horticultural fleece should do the trick nicely!
Flowers for Spring Blooms
While we’re enjoying this year’s blooms, it might seem premature to think about next spring already – but trust me, it’s worth it! Here are some flower seeds you can sow now:
Sweet Peas
These fragrant beauties can be started off in pots under cover and planted out once they’ve grown sturdy enough.
Poppies
Scatter poppy seeds directly onto bare soil patches for an explosion of colour next year.
Wildflower Mixes
These are perfect for creating a pollinator-friendly patch in your garden – just scatter them where you want them to grow!
Foxgloves & Hollyhocks
These tall biennials bring height and drama to borders – sow them now and they’ll flower next year.
Cerinthe Major 'Purpurascens'
Also known as Honeywort, this plant produces beautiful purple-blue bracts that bees love!
Now that we’ve covered what seeds you could be sowing at this time of year let’s talk about how best to go about it:
Prepare Your Soil
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Sow Your Seeds
Follow packet instructions regarding depth and spacing – remember some seeds prefer direct sowing while others may need starting off indoors or under cover.
Keep Them Watered
While we might occasionally have rainy days even in August, don’t rely solely on British weather! Keep your newly-sown areas well-watered but avoid waterlogging.
Protect Your Crops
Protect those tender seedlings from pests such as slugs and snails with barriers or organic slug pellets.
Be Patient
Germination times vary between plants so don’t worry if nothing happens immediately – gardening is all about patience after all!
I hope this guide helps you plan your late-summer gardening activities effectively! Remember that every garden is unique; what works wonderfully in one might not work as well in another due to differences in soil type, sunlight exposure etc., so don’t be disheartened if everything doesn’t go perfectly first time round – gardening is a constant learning process!
At Formby Gardener, we’re always here to help with any questions you may have or services you may need! Don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything more you’d like advice on – I’m just a phone call away.
