August harvest featuring Monty's selection of seasonal fruits and vegetables
In his August garden, Monty Don is focusing on protecting his grapes from potential threats, such as birds and wasps, while also tending to his carrots and potatoes.
While no specific details about the type of grapes Monty is growing have been shared, his greenhouse protection strategy could potentially include the use of deterrents or barriers. Monty has demonstrated a method for protecting grape plants by covering them with netting or fine mesh, which prevents birds from accessing the fruit. For wasps, he suggests removing nearby food sources and using traps or repellents specifically designed to deter wasps without harming beneficial insects.
As for his carrots, they are typically ready to harvest about 60 to 70 days after sowing. To avoid damaging the roots, Monty lifts them gently with a fork. Meanwhile, 'Violetta' potatoes are harvested when the tops begin to yellow and die back. Care is taken to dig around the plants to avoid damaging the tubers.
August is a peak production month in kitchen gardens, with an abundance of fruit and vegetable harvests. Monty offers tips for growing better tomatoes, including information on common problems such as blossom end rot, split fruit, and green fruit that aren't ripening. However, specific methods for ripening green tomatoes were not mentioned in the provided text.
Monty's greenhouse grape protection plan does not involve the use of chemicals or pesticides, as per the context. The harvest of 'Nigel' carrots is underway, and tips for avoiding carrot fly damage are shared.
For those interested in Monty's advice, checking episodes of Gardeners' World or other gardening shows where he shares tips on these topics would be beneficial. In August, Monty investigates issues with his tomato crop and provides advice for growing fruit and vegetables in general. His greenhouse grape protection method may involve preventing access to the grapes for birds and wasps, but the specifics of this plan are not detailed in the provided text.
In Monty's quest to maintain a thriving kitchen garden, his greenhouse might be a place to observe home-and-garden techniques like the use of netting or fine mesh to safeguard grape plants from birds. Additionally, for a peaceful and productive home-and-garden environment, Monty advises using wasp traps or repellents that don't harm beneficial insects, to discourage their presence in the gardens.
