vegetable gardening – Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society

Pat’s 10 jobs for August 2026

1. To be honest we know at the moment with the drought and the heat this column will be about the few things you can do to keep things alive. I am sure we will all have losses along the way, but remember all is not lost and will mean new planting opportunities for next year.

Fallen leaves can make an immediate mulch over damp ground, August 2026 — Impromptu mulch after watering

2. If you have weeds growing (even they are struggling at the moment!), pull out and place around plants to help hold the moisture in the soil. Make sure the weeds haven’t gone to seed and, if they have, pull the seedheads off and dispose of them.

3. Mulch the soil with anything you have to hand: your own compost, fallen leaves (as there seem to be so many) but make sure the soil is damp first so you can help lock in the moisture.

Pat’s 10 jobs for July 2026

1. Maybe in this challenging weather the best thing you can do is mulch the soil (after watering, so that the soil is moist and the mulch will retain that moisture). If you pull out weeds leave them on the surface to keep roots cool, use grass clippings if you have them but making sure to keep away from stems of plants.

2. To save water just water around the roots of plants by removing roses on watering cans and spray attachments on hoses.

Salvia 'Peach Parfait' — Salvias (‘Peach Parfait’, ‘Nachtvlinder’ and ‘Amistad’)

Salvia 'Nachtvlinder' — Salvias (‘Peach Parfait’, ‘Nachtvlinder’ and ‘Amistad’)

Pat’s 10 jobs for June 2026

1. There’s still time to direct sow some annuals like Cerinthe, Nasturtium, Nigella and Calendula for late flowering. Remember to thin out once germinated for decent size flowers.

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' — Cerinthe (honeywort), Nigella (love in the mist) and Calendula (pot marigold) can all still be sown now

Nigella damascena (love in the mist) — Cerinthe (honeywort), Nigella (love in the mist) and Calendula (pot marigold) can all still be sown now

2. Lily beetles are rife this year so be vigilant as they can devastate in no time (and they enjoy fritillaries too).

Pat’s 10 jobs for May 2026

Lonicera americana in full flower for night-flying moths

1. At this time of year when the weather is warm early Dutch honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) and Lonicera americana are a magnet for night-flying moths attracted by the spicy scent, so try growing one if you have the space.

2. If seedlings and cuttings are growing away well, put them outside during the day to harden off then bring them in at night if the weather is cold.

3. Iris are in spectacular full flower now, but be sure to keep their rhizomes free from weeds so they get baked by the sun which will aid flowering next year.

Irises in flower in a raised bed (but somewhat congested) — Glorious irises in flower – including Iris ‘Député Nomblot’

Iris 'Député Nomblot' in a friend's garden — Glorious irises in flower – including Iris ‘Député Nomblot’

Pat’s 10 jobs for April 2026

1. Cut back those shrubby Salvias now if you haven’t already done so, both in the ground and in pots. Cut just above a shoot and they will grow away fast, but listen out for forecast of frost.

Cut back shrubby Salvia to a leaf node — Cut back shrubby Salvia, deter weeds (and possibly molluscs) with a gravel mulch,
and support your taller plants

Protect slug-magnets with grit — Cut back shrubby Salvia, deter weeds (and possibly molluscs) with a gravel mulch,
and support your taller plants

2. Some bulbs are now over so make sure to deadhead and then leave the foliage to die back naturally, and give them a good feed to build up the bulbs for next year.

Pat’s 10 jobs for March 2026

1. Time to cut back Buddleja davidii hard… don’t be timid, take it right back to 40cm to a pair of buds. If you want a taller plant make the cuts higher up the stem. It will grow back in no time. The prunings make good hardwood cuttings and root easily straight in the ground.

Buddleja davidii in need of a hard prune — *Buddlejas* before and after a hard prune (not the same plant!)

Buddleja davidii after a fairly hard prune - already developing new shoots! — *Buddlejas* before and after a hard prune (not the same plant!)

2. You can pot up Dahlia tubers now by placing in pots or trays of peat-free compost in a frost-free place, and water once with no need to water again until shoots appear. Make sure the tubers are firm with no sign of rot.

Pat’s 10 jobs for February 2026

1. It’s time to prune your Group 3 Clematis (the Viticella and Jackmanii type) to tackle tangled growth at the base so they can grow away strongly. Take all growth back hard to about 6 to 12 inches above the ground, cutting above a leaf joint. Then give them a feed and a mulch. It seems drastic but they respond well and will grow quickly. If it’s a fairly new plant check around the base for slugs which can quickly eat any weak new growth.

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning' before February pruning — *Clematis viticella* ‘Betty Corning’ before and after a hard prune

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning' after February pruning — *Clematis viticella* ‘Betty Corning’ before and after a hard prune

2. Cut back all spent foliage on grasses making sure not to snip emerging shoots. And look out for any seedlings to pot up for our plant sales table if you don’t want them!