Allotment jobs for August

You might be going on holiday, and will need to prepare for time away from your plot.

• What to plant in August

Here are some allotment jobs for August.

Harvesting

Lots of crops can be harvested in August, including carrots, runner beans, beetroot, globe artichokes, cucumbers, courgettes, and second early potatoes; maincrops may be ready from the end of the month. You can also harvest onions and shallots - leave them to dry in a sunny spot before storing.

• Do you need a garden trug or basket for your harvests?

Prune trained apples and pears

Some fruit trees can be pruned in summer, including plums, to avoid the development of silver-leaf disease. Trained apples and pears can be pruned in summer, as can spur-fruiting, established apple trees. Find out how to prune apple trees in summer, and if you need a new pair of secateurs, find out which ones came out on top when we put them through their paces.

Watch out for pests and diseases

Watch out for flea beetle on brassicas and related plants such as Swiss chard and rocket. The tiny holes they create don't affect the vigour of established plants but make the leaves less appealing to eat - cover plants with fleece. Also look out for blossom end rot on tomatoes, which is caused by irregular watering.

• How to make a scarecrow

Sow crops

You can still sow lots of crops in August, for harvests into autumn and beyond. They include lettuce (keep out of the glare of direct sun), rocket, spring onion, radish plus winter salads, including mibuna, mizuna, mustard leaf and lamb's lettuce.

• Buy veg seeds to sow in August from Suttons

Cut back summer-fruiting raspberries

Once they have fruited, the canes of summer-fruiting raspberries can be cut down to the ground. Read our guide to pruning summer-fruiting raspberries.

Prepare for a holiday

Going on holiday? Give the plot a thorough soaking before you go, and harvest as many crops as you can, even if they're small. If you can, get a friend or neighbour to water for you while you're away. Read our guide to summer watering to let them know what to prioritise. We've tested a range of the best hoses on the market and have picked our favourite water butts as well as watering cans.