August Checklist: Keeping the Greenhouse Productive

August is the most intense month for your greenhouse—doing a few key tasks each week can keep your tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, and salads going strong while setting the stage for autumn. Here’s a simple, no-nonsense checklist to keep your greenhouse thriving through the hottest part of the season.

1. Water Deeply (and Regularly)

• Check pots, grow bags, and beds daily—August heat dries out soil fast.
• Water early morning or evening, soaking soil to root depth.
• Avoid splashing leaves to prevent fungal problems.

2. Harvest Often and Thoroughly

• Pick tomatoes, chillies, cukes, and melons as soon as they ripen—daily if possible.
• Remove old or rotting fruit right away to avoid pests and diseases.

3. Feed Crops for Abundance

• Liquid-feed tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers every 7–10 days with high-potash fertiliser.
• Water before feeding if soil is dry—roots will take up nutrients more efficiently.

4. Remove Yellow or Diseased Leaves

• Regularly check plants from the base up for yellowing, wilting, or spotted leaves.
• Snip or pull off to boost airflow and prevent fungal spread.

5. Ventilate Everyday

• Prop open doors, windows, and vents in all but the coldest rain.
• Use shade cloth or whitewash on sunny days to keep plants from overheating.

6. Prune and Train Vines

• Pinch out side shoots and lower leaves on tomatoes.
• Tie in trailing cucumber and melon stems so fruit grows off the floor.

7. Watch for Pests

• Check under leaves and on growing tips for aphids, whitefly, and red spider mite.
• Use sticky traps for whitefly, or gently wipe off insects with a damp cloth.
• Remove any plant showing severe symptoms of pest infestation.

8. Start Autumn Crops

• Sow rocket, mustards, winter lettuce, and spinach in trays or beds.
• Move potted herbs or baby leaf into semi-shaded greenhouse corners for a final flush before nights cool.

9. Deep Clean as You Go

• Sweep and tidy paths and working areas to prevent slugs and fungal spores.
• Wash spent pots and tools after each use—don’t let mold build up on benches or surfaces.

10. Plan for September

• Assess which crops are winding down and clear space early for autumn onions, garlic, or a late salad sowing.
• Revisit your seed and bulb order for the coming season.

Stay on top of these August tasks and you’re guaranteed a productive, healthy, and tidy greenhouse—with amazing tomatoes, peppers, and even new leafy harvests as autumn approaches.