Savour fruits of your labour

FROM BERRIES TO CURRANTS, PLUMS TO PEARS, ENJOY YOUR GARDEN'S BOUNTY NOW

- DAVID DOMONEY

AUGUST is a fantastic month to enjoy homegrown fruit and plan more harvests to come. From bold flavours to brilliant foliage, fruiting plants bring beauty and bounty to every garden.

BLUEBERRIES: colourful and nutritious

Now’s the time to enjoy ripe blueberries or plant a potted bush for next year's crop. One standout variety is ‘Pink Lemonade’ which produces blush-pink berries and stunning autumn colour.

For traditional crops, ‘Bluecrop’ delivers reliable yields, and ‘Duke’ offers early fruit with good flavour.

Blueberries thrive in acidic soil, so use ericaceous compost and rainwater. Feed now with a specialist fertiliser and ensure consistent watering, especially if growing in containers.

RASPBERRIES: tall and trusty

Raspberries are in their prime at this time of year. Summer-fruiting types like ‘Glen Ample’ will produce generously.

Pick fruit daily and prune out spent canes once they've finished cropping. New canes should be left to carry next year’s harvest.