Herbs do start to look untidy once mid summer is here. Mint grown in pots get very leggy and mildew is a problem in our humid climate. Cut the mint right down to soil level, repot into the next size up and feed with tomato feed, in two weeks new growth will emerge and lovely fresh mint will be available again.
Trim the fading flowers from Thyme, if they look pot bound and leggy trim them back but not too much and pot on into a larger pot. Feed with tomato feed. Do the same with Chives and Sorrel.
Parsley is an odd herb, it does always seem to go yellow during August, I cut it back, feed it and hope for the best. It hates to be in very wet soil, this causes the roots to rot and so the leaves start to look sickly. Try to feed it with tomato feed but do not over water, if in a pot make sure it is a large pot with good compost and most important of all make sure the drainage holes are not blocked, do not put a saucer under parsley.
French Tarragon and Sage also start to get a bit untidy during August, both can be potted on. Keep using all herbs often as this constant trimming is good as it encourages fresh growth.
The vegetable garden will be full of weeds after July’s heavy thunder rain, it is hard to keep on top of the vegetable plot. Weeds compete for nutrients and water so just do your best and try to keep them under control. Leave the wild flowers for the pollinating insects as they will pollinate the bean flowers to ensure a good crop. Watch out for blight in potatoes and tomatoes, if it does attack the foliage lift the potatoes and store them somewhere cool, dry and dark. They will keep a long time.
All vegetables grown in containers need a lot of looking after, always ensure the compost is kept moist but not too wet, feed weekly with tomato feed but keep picking the tomatoes as they ripen. Keep an eye on courgettes, one minute they are small, the next they are like marrows! Pick them often. The same goes for all vegetables, they all come at once so pick daily and store what cannot be used or make chutney and other preserves.
Dead head all fading flowers on the perennials, this will encourage more flowers. If perennials are grown in containers check them every day for water, don’t let them dry out. Watch out for very windy weather, it will break brittle plants such as Salvias and Agastache. Feed weekly with tomato feed.
