Gardening: It's time to stop harvesting asparagus, but there are plenty of other jobs | Brian Kidd

Brian’s list of jobs in the garden for the coming days.
Always wear a hat when thinning grapes. Why? See below.Always wear a hat when thinning grapes. Why? See below.
Always wear a hat when thinning grapes. Why? See below.

• Children are gradually being encouraged to eat good food not rubbish. So try runner beans because they are one of the best-tasting vegetables. If you only have a small garden don’t be put off as runner beans look elegant in a flower border and take little space as they grow up canes. If you live in a flat, grow some in a growing bag, tub or large pot. Use 8ft-long canes in a wigwam and fix the canes to a wall or fence to stop them blowing over. The beans will be ready to eat in August.

• Stop cutting asparagus. The stems need to grow so the ferny leaves can send down nutrients to the roots. This encourages next year’s crop. Feed the plants blood, fish and bone. Fork it into the soil and water.

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• Sow seeds of calceolaria pot plants in the greenhouse. These beautiful balloon-like flowers will bloom next spring in a frost-free greenhouse.

• Keep removing side shoots on tomatoes. Make sure you do it regularly. If bunches of fruits are heavy, use twist ties to support trusses on the canes.

• Spray outdoor tomatoes and potatoes with copper mixture to PREVENT blight. I get my leg pulled about this because I warn of blight so often, but at least you are reading these articles!

• Start thinning grapes. Wear a hat so your hair does not get in contact with the fruit. Hair spoils the ‘bloom’ on the skin of the fruit.

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• Spray the foliage of fruit trees with plain water in the late evening to PREVENT red spider mite.

• Cut back one in three runner bean vines so the ones cut back will shoot lower on the vines. This will prolong the crop, a good idea if you are short of space. If there are no flowers on the vines and they are up to the top of the canes, remove half the leaves, give them just one ounce of sulphate of potash, along every three yards of the row and gently fork this in. Water afterwards.

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