Peak produce

For Great Dixter’s gardener-cook, August is a month of rain and courgettes. It’s also the moment when his vegetable patch reaches its productive peak and he can really start to enjoy the fruits of his labour

As Great Dixter’s vegetable garden reaches its productive peak, its gardenercook offers tips on how to manage a glut of courgettes

For many people, August is traditionally the holiday month. Unfortunately for them, it also often seems to turn out to be a month of cloudy skies and lots – and lots – of rain. I have no need to look at a calendar to know when the schools have broken up. I simply look at the sky. Of course, for a gardener, rain is always welcome and, provided you have resisted the lure of a fortnight away somewhere damp and gloomy, this is the time to enjoy the vegetable garden at its productive peak, particularly if you are a fan of courgettes. Personally, I prefer to stay put in August and enjoy the fruits of my labours. While the emphasis this month is very much on harvesting – and eating – there is still maintenance work to be done. Great growing weather for crops is also good news for weeds, so don’t be tempted to take a holiday from the hoeing.

Despite what I have said about the weather, you will still need to keep an eye on the watering, too. Rain is all very well, but it does need to be the right type of rain to really penetrate the soil. Keep a careful eye on any crops growing in pots, and plants that are setting fruit now, such as apples and pears. Don’t be tempted either to ignore globe artichokes, just because they look rather Mediterranean and drought-proof. They will repay regular soaking with a bountiful second flush. Christopher Lloyd always made sure he had artichokes to pick right the way through the summer, and loved to serve them as a starter, simply boiled and dressed with olive oil, salt and pepper.