Monty's summer veg patch

Discover how to get the most from your veg patch as Monty shares his expert advice on harvesting veg and planning ahead for winter crops

- Monty

PART 3 PEAK HARVEST AND WINTER CROPS

Although a skillful gardener can keep a supply of herbs, fruit, and veg going for most of the year, August is undoubtedly the best month for the vegetable garden.

It is an earthy business, growing veg, and all the better for that. There is nothing in the garden that gives me so much pleasure as going round the August vegetable plot, and gathering the amazingly rich harvest that can be found in even the smallest area.

No other month has such largesse to offer, combining the last of earlier crops, like garlic, peas, and broad beans, with the first of the later ones, such as French beans, sweetcorn, Florence fennel, and the very best, sweetest tomatoes of the year. Onions can be lifted and left to dry in the sun, ready for storage, and the ground turned over once more, ready for brassicas.

It is a time of change. The warm days and cool nights often result in a dew, which means seeds germinate fast and are less likely to bolt. Next spring's crops can be sown and planted just as you gather in this summer's harvest. But, above all, August is a celebration of the very best vegetables - fresh and seasonal, and grown with love. There is no better definition of good food.

Endless choice