07_July

In July the days are long, the sun is likely to be at its highest and all being well you are harvesting something delicious from your plot. July can often be a dry month so watering is crucial as most crops require a steady, unbroken supply of water.

• Weed regularly
• Mulch to conserve moisture
• Net against birds
• Dry out garlic, onions and shallots - a few days before harvest loosen the soil around the roots. The more thoroughly dry they are the longer they will keep.
• Pinch out tops of climbing beans
• Pinch out tomato shoots - nip off the side shoots
• Feed tomatoes & peppers - start watering regularly with a liquid fertiliser
• Summer prune - gooseberries, red currants, white currants, blackcurrants and raspberries and tidy up the strawberry patch.

Sow or plant in July
Brussel sprouts, cabbages and cauliflowers - July is the time to sow cabbages for next spring and your last chance to plant out sprouts, winter cabbages and autumn cauliflowers
Peas & French Beans - last chance for sowing or planting these, any later and the pods are unlikely to develop enough before the onset of frosts
Lettuce and other salad crops - sow more lettuce, rocket, land cress and other salad leaves for an ongoing supply into autumn