Key crops for August

Chervil

With calcium for strong bones and potassium for a healthy heart, chervil’s delicate flavour goes well in omelettes, light soups and fish dishes.

Chicory

A natural bitter, chicory aids digestion, making it the perfect side to a Sunday roast. Contains beta-carotene, folate and vitamin C.

Endive

A useful source of iron, potassium and skinfriendly carotenoids. Chop and add to stir-fries or use in place of lettuce in a burger.

Kale

Containes folate, vitamin K, and immunesupportive iron and selenium. Minimise cooking or use raw to optimise nutritional value.

Kohlrabi

Like other cruciferous vegetables, kohlrabi supplies cancer-protective compounds and is rich in B vitamins and vitamin C. Stores well.

Mizuna

This mild mustard leaf adds bite to a salad and is a useful addition for folate, iron and vitamin C. Pick as needed.

Pak choi

Nutrient-rich including minerals such as calcium, folate, vitamin C and zinc. Add to salads, soups and stir-fries.

Rocket

A member of the brassica family, rocket has similar immune benefits to broccoli. Its warm, peppery flavour perks up salads and sandwiches.

Watercress

Packed with skin-friendly antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and cancerprotective compounds isothiocyanates.

Winter lettuces

The darker the leaves, the richer the nutrients, including folate and fat-soluble carotenoids. Add an oil-based dressing to optimise their absorption.

gardenersworld.com/what-to-do-now

Tips Chicory likes a sunny site and fertile soil. Water regularly during warm weather, otherwise plants may run to seed prematurely. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 30cm apart 30cm between rows

Tips Sow curly leaved types now to pick as young salad leaves in autumn. Protect from slugs and keep well watered to deter bolting. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 30cm apart 35cm between rows

Tips Pick young leaves as a cut-and-come-again crop for salads, then leave plants to mature for tasty winter greens. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 15cm apart 15cm between rows

Tips Grow purple varieties now, as they tend to be more hardy for autumn cropping. Harvest when they’re no bigger than a tennis ball. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 30cm apart 30cm between rows

Tips Sow a last batch outdoors this month, shaded from strong summer sun. Water well to deter bolting and pick leaves regularly. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 10cm apart 25cm between rows

Tips Try green- and purple-leaved varieties. Water regularly, ensuring the soil never fully dries out for lots of lush, tasty leaves. Sow 2cm deep Final spacing 10cm apart 38cm between rows

Tips Sow now for autumn and winter harvests. Grow them under glass or protect outdoor plants with fleece from autumn onwards. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 15cm apart 15cm between rows

Tips Easy to grow in a pot, either outdoors in light shade or on a bright windowsill. Keep the compost constantly moist and pick leaves regularly. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 5cm apart, in a 30cm pot

Tips Sow outdoors or in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. Protect outdoor plants in winter with cloches or fleece in cold spells. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 15cm apart 25cm between rows

for more advice on the best crops to sow and plant this month, and how to do it.