Gardeners have been recommended to make use of the August weather and plant this one vegetable before the month ends. Although weather conditions at this time of year can often be hot and dry, there are plenty of crops you can sow and plant that will do well at this time of year.
The best things to plant in August typically include vegetables that will give you short-term harvests and ones that can overwinter and provide you with early crops in the late winter and spring. Therefore, gardeners shouldn’t waste any time and get to planting this vegetable as soon as possible.
According to Gardeners’ World if sown in August “spinach can provide a crop of young leaves in October and then enter dormacy in winter, ready to provide a fresh crop of leaves in early spring.”
The verstile vegetable is fairly easy to grow, making it a great option for beginner gardeners as well.
To grow spinach, seeds must be sown in moist but well-drained soil or compost that is in partial shade. Gardeners should make a shallow moist drill for the seeds and the cover them lightly with soil.
It is recommended to sow spinach successionally every few weeks as this will ensure a continous crop. You can also harvest any baby leaves to use in salads, whilst mature leaves work well for soups and stews.
Gardeners’ World added: “Spinach thrives in fertile soil that doesn’t easily dry out. In hot weather, set up temporary shade for your spinach crop to stop the soil drying out and the crop bolting (running to seed).”
It is crucial that you keep your spinach well-watered and ensure that it is well looked after. Spinach is also prone to downy mildew, which is worse in humid weather.
There are mildew-resistant varieties available. However, Gardeners’ World notes that the “best method of prevention” is ensuring good spacing around plants, which helps the air circulate, and targeting your watering at the base of the plants.
