garden calendar - August

Plant your seed Potatoes, Asparagus and Rhubarb. Potatoes can be grown in a variety of ways, such as in old tyres, on unwanted lawn or in the traditional method. Use only seed potatoes to avoid introducing diseases into the soil. Asparagus will last for years and years so choose an area where it won't need to be disturbed. Rhubarb is another perennial which will do well left undisturbed so prepare the soil well before planting with loads of goodness.

In the vegetable garden it's time to plant seed or seedlings of Onions, Carrots, Parsley, Cabbage, Parsnip, Rocket, Silverbeet, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Rocket, Lettuce, Kale, Leek, Asian greens, Radish, Beetroot, Celery, Parsnip and Peas.

It's the start of the season to plant Globe Artichokes, Strawberries, Turnips, Chicory, Fennel, Sunflowers and your last chance to plant Jerusalem Artichokes and Spinach by seed.

Put down some rich compost or well aged manure around the drip lines of your fruit trees.

Prepare other beds for your summer vegetables by incorporating organic matter such as well-rotted compost, blood and bone and animal manures. Green manure crops should be dug in now before their stems become too woody.

For glasshouses / hothouses or similar - try getting an early start with sowing seeds of tomatoes, chillis and eggplants. The seeds can also be germinated on a sunny windowsill indoors. Plant seedlings of basil and early, more cold tolerant tomatoes in your greenhouse. Early tomato seedling varieties are Apollo, Rouge de Marmande, Ky1 and Roma.

Mulch the whole garden now, before the soil dries out. Mulches should be 7.5cm deep, and a variety of open materials may be used. Research indicates that chunky mulches work best. Top up any mulch layers that have thinned over winter.