Allotment Jobs for August: Harvest, Sow, and Prepare for Autumn

dorsetcountrylife
Aug 1
3 min read

Allotment in August, abundance of vegetables growing

Here are the key jobs to do on the allotment in August:

🥕 1. Harvest Everything That’s Ready

August is peak harvest time. Check daily for:

Tomatoes – Pick as they ripen to encourage more fruit, I also cut back the leaves so the plant can put all its energy into the fruit.
Courgettes – Harvest when young for best flavour; leave them too long and they turn into marrows!
Runner beans and French beans – Regular picking prevents pods from becoming stringy.
Sweetcorn – Ready when kernels are plump and milky when pierced.
Potatoes – Lift early and second earlies as needed; leave maincrops a bit longer if foliage is still green.
Soft fruits – Raspberries, blackberries, currants, and blueberries should be in full swing.

Things in my kitchen get really busy this time of year. I am picking most days and starting to fill the freezer with veg for the winter months. I am picking Raspberries daily and freezing so that when I have enough I can make jam (recipe on the blog). I have been processing the Tomato glut in various ways, dehydrating some, making passata and freezing and tomato paste for pizza toppings.

I have vacuum packed and frozen sweetcorn this year with seasoning and a knob of butter, so that they can just be dropped into a pan of boiling water to cook. There are many ways to use and store vegetables for the coming winter months, from freezing, canning, pickling and soup making. So although there is an abundance of veg on the plot, nothing gets wasted!

vacuum pack sweetcorn from the allotment ready to freeze

🌱 2. Sow for Autumn and Winter Crops

There’s still time to sow hardy veg that will give you a crop later in the year or early next spring:

Spring cabbage
Turnips
Pak Choi
Winter lettuce (like ‘Arctic King’ or ‘Winter Density’)
Mustard greens and mizuna
Radishes – Quick crops, perfect for succession sowing.

Tip: Use netting or fleece to protect young seedlings from pests like flea beetles and cabbage whites.

🌿 3. General Maintenance and Plot Care

Watering: Keep crops well-watered, especially during dry spells we have been having. Focus on tomatoes, courgettes, and anything in containers.
Weeding: Weeds compete for moisture and nutrients. Keep on top of them with regular hoeing.
Mulching: Apply mulch to keep moisture in and weeds down.
Support plants: Check canes, ties, and structures – especially with tall or top-heavy crops like tomatoes and beans.

🧑‍🌾 4. Feed Hungry Crops

Tomatoes, squashes, cucumbers, and peppers benefit from a fortnightly feed with a high-potash fertiliser to boost fruiting. Water before feeding to avoid root burn.

🍂 5. Start Prepping for Autumn

Clear finished crops: Remove spent peas, beans, and early lettuces.
Green manures: Consider sowing green manures like phacelia or mustard in empty beds to improve soil health over winter.
Composting: Keep turning your compost heap and add a mix of green and brown material.

🐛 6. Keep an Eye on Pests and Diseases

Cabbage white butterflies are still active – net brassicas and check leaves for eggs.
Blight can strike potatoes and tomatoes – remove affected leaves promptly and destroy, don’t compost.
Slugs and snails are still around – especially in wet weather. Use traps, barriers, or hand-picking.

🌸 7. Enjoy the Plot

August is a reward for all your hard work – don’t forget to enjoy it! Have a picnic, cut some dahlias or sunflowers for home, and take a moment to soak it all in. Gardening is not just about productivity but also peace, satisfaction, and connection with nature. This is one of my favourite thing's to do in August. I love watching the bees on the sunflowers and just take in the tranquility of being on the allotment and ponder on the amazement that only a few months ago the ground was bare and all of this before me, started from just a few tiny seeds.