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Garden and balcony tips for late summer
24.8.2017
Translation: machine translated
August brings us a rich harvest in the fruit and vegetable garden. The first blackberries begin to ripen and we can snack on the delicious tomatoes straight from the tomato vine. At the same time, we are already sowing seeds for the winter and for next year.
Ripen tomatoes better
To ensure that the tomatoes already on your tomato plants all ripen nicely, I recommend "topping" the bush from mid-August. This is done by making a clean cut on the main shoot of the plant with a pair of scissors. This allows the tomato plant to put all its energy into ripening the fruit. Without cutting the main shoot, the tomato plant would simply continue to grow and channel its energy into forming new shoots and more flowers. You can find out exactly how to do this in this video: [[video:61716]]
Planting strawberries for next year
Maybe you've already thought about growing and harvesting strawberries in your garden or on your balcony next year. If so, you need to make private pension provisions now. Young strawberry plants are on sale from around the end of July. To ensure that the strawberry plants produce good yields next year, the young plants should be planted by mid-August. However, the everbearing varieties such as "Mara des Bois" or the monthly strawberries can also be planted in September. As you may have already tried yourself, these are very suitable for the balcony or patio in larger plant containers. Find out more here.
Maturity test for aubergines
Aubergines are ripe from July/August. It is important not to let them get too big. You can test whether the aubergine is ripe by gently pressing on the outer skin. If the skin of the aubergine gives way slightly, it is ready to be picked. Another check to see if the aubergines are really ripe: the fruit is no longer greenish on the inside. If the flesh is still green, you have harvested too early. As aubergines belong to the nightshade family, they contain solanine, which is slightly poisonous to us and should not be eaten when unripe. If the outer skin of the aubergine is no longer shiny and the cut flesh is brown and wadded, the aubergine is overripe.
How to sow lamb's lettuce for autumn and winter
If you want to harvest lamb's lettuce in your garden, you should sow the seeds in the garden bed by mid-August at the latest. It's best to look for a sunny garden bed for this. Lamb's lettuce (also known as lamb's lettuce) is a dark germinator and is sown about 1 cm deep into the soil and covered with soil. It germinates after 10 to 15 days at a temperature of 15 to 20 °C.
Sow on the bed in 4 rows with a distance of 15 cm between the rows. Leeks, winter onions or strawberries are ideal for mixed cultivation. If sown too densely, the rosettes will remain too small, so ensure sufficient spacing. As soon as the first rosettes of leaves are large enough, they can be harvested.
Winter radish for autumn and winter
Winter radish is a great storage vegetable and very easy to grow in the garden, but also in a raised bed or on the balcony in a box. Just make sure that the container is large and, above all, deep enough (approx. 30 to 40 cm).
Winter radish is mainly available in black but also in white varieties and is usually an annual. The soil should be deep and loose with a high humus content. Basic fertilisation is achieved with mature compost.
Winter radish thrives best in a full sun to semi-shady location with even moisture. The ideal time for sowing is from June to mid-August at the latest in rows 15 to 20 cm apart. As soon as the first seedlings appear, you should separate the young plants to 15 to 20 cm. This gives the individual radishes enough space to develop. Harvest between October and the end of November, depending on the sowing date. The vegetables can be stored all winter without any problems.
How blackberries get really sweet
In order to get really sweet blackberries, you should leave them hanging on the bush for a few days after they turn black until they feel soft and the individual berries are really big and black. Only then are they really ripe and also deliciously sweet, inviting you to snack on them straight from the bush. As blackberries do not all ripen at the same time, it is advisable to plan a harvest at least every 3 to 5 days.
Blackberries taste fantastic in muesli, as a delicious dessert or in a sweet cake. A plant that no garden or balcony should be without. When growing on the balcony, it is important that you buy a variety for the balcony. Meanwhile, there are many berries and fruits that are suitable for growing in a pot. It's best to seek advice or take inspiration from the countless gardening books available.
En Guete!
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Header image: stock.adobe.com/karepa
I discovered my love for gardening very early on and later turned my passion into my profession. For a few years now, I’ve been regularly writing blog posts and publishing articles in the HomeGardening section of myPfadFinder.com. This is where I give readers tips and tricks on gardens and balconies and present my latest gardening videos.
Find out more about me here: <a href="http://www.andreas-homegardening.com/" target="_blank">www.andreas-homegardening.com</a>
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