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Thompson & Morgan: Andrew Tokely's Weekly Gardening Blog

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Another busy week on the Tokely Plot and in the garden. The vegetable plot has been hoed, grass paths cut and edged and it all looks very smart, as does the flower garden at home. The main job I have had this week in the evenings or early mornings, has been watering the plot, flower borders, baskets and containers to keep things going whilst we are experiencing this glorious spell of hot weather.

It is a very busy time and harvesting is now well under way. I am already pulling carrots and beetroot, digging new potatoes, picking peas and broad beans. Cabbage and lettuce are ready for cutting and there are other crops which are nearly ready. To ensure my plot keeps productive, as each crop is harvested I like to sow some more. Once a little ground preparation is done I will be making further sowings of radish, salad leaves, turnips and Rocket, keeping the plot full and productive throughout the year.

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Runner Beans Climbing Well

Runner Beans from my first sowing are just starting to flower and are climbing the sticks well, so it won't be long before I am harvesting one of my favourite vegetables. I have been watering the plants each night putting about 6-8 gallons on a double 20ft row. With flowers forming and beans not long behind this will be stepped up to 10-12 gallons a night as the crop matures. The final sowing of Runner Beans I made on 10th June have all germinated in root trainers and will be ready to plant out in about another seven days.

Whilst travelling around the county of Suffolk I have noticed that most of the climbing Wisterias have finished flowering, so now is the ideal time to give them a summer prune. What you need to do is trim back all the side shoots to about six buds, so the shoots are about 15cm (6in) from the main stem. It is also a good idea at this time of year to tie in the main shoots to their supports to generally tidy up your plants. If done properly, no more pruning should be necessary until next January.

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Clematis on my Pergola

I have been very lucky to inherit some lovely plants in my new garden. I have a pergola, which has a climbing rose growing through it along with two different varieties of spectacular large-flowered Clematis. These Clematis are probably now at their best, and I have already noticed the odd petal falling off. To ensure the display lasts as long as possible I will pick off the dead flowers, stopping them from producing seedpods. This deadheading plus a little high potash (tomato) feed should prolong the display for a few more weeks.

I am already picking Pea Twinkle, and my main crop peas, Hurst Greenshaft, are in full flower at the moment and just beginning to set a pod. To ensure I have some good peas to pick, now is a good time to spray them with a suitable insecticide as a preventative against Pea Moth. Alternatively you can cover the whole crop with some Enviromesh, as this will prevent the moths from laying their eggs in your peas. Taking a few precautions now will be beneficial as there is nothing more disappointing than opening a pod of peas and seeing it full of maggots.

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Bunton's Showstopper Onions

My large exhibition Bunton's Showstopper onions are growing well at the moment but I have already noticed the fungal disease mildew just starting to appear on another plot holder’s plants. I will now start to spray every 14 days to try to keep my plants clear of this dreaded disease. I suggest you use a suitable fungicide to control mildew as I always think prevention is better than trying to cure with this disease.

If, like me, you grow a lot of brassicas, then make sure you give your plants a close inspection on a regular basis. This week I spotted some grey aphid on one or two plants of my summer cabbage and Brussels Sprouts. If left untreated this pest will suck any goodness out of the leaves and is often only spotted by a yellow mottling on the foliage. If these are seen on your plants, either rub them off with your hand or spray them with a suitable insecticide in the evening when it is cool.

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Courgette Fruiting Well

Finally this week, if I haven't already got enough to harvest, I noticed that I now have courgettes on the plot that are flowering and fruiting well at the moment and I will be making my first pick of the season this week. Now they have settled in and are starting to fruit I will make sure these and my pumpkins and marrows are kept well watered during any dry weather. From this weekend I am also going to start feeding them with a liquid feed once a week. One week I will give them a general liquid fertiliser to help build up the plants, then the following week I will feed them with a high potash (tomato) feed to encourage flowers and fruit. I will continue to alternate these feeds each week throughout the season, to ensure I get a bumper harvest. Picking regularly will also encourage the production of fruits.

Listen to Andrew on BBC Radio Suffolk on Saturdays between 8.00 and 9.00am.