July - an overview
Any long dry spells water the crops that need it most. This is
usually seedlings as most vegetables will be too big to justify
hand watering. Restrict watering to the evening and give the ground
a good soaking as little water will do more harm than good.
Harvesting
vegetables from spring sowing should begin in earnest during the
month, with plants such as peas, broad beans, courgettes, cabbage
and turnip.
Early potatoes planted mid March should now be ready, it's worth
digging up a few and leaving the rest in ground to continue to
grow if the haulm is still on the plant.
Garlic that was planted last October November should be ready
at the start of this month.
Leeks
that were sown indoors in February - March should be planted out
when there is space in the garden. You make a hole with a dibber,
drop the leek into the hole and water in.
Cabbage
and cauliflower that were sown indoors in February March should
be ready. If you have a number of cauliflower plants pick as early
as possible, when the curds are small as they will "blow"
- the curd starts to bolt and will be useless. It's worth bending
one of the outer leaves breaking it at the stem, and covering
the curd to protect from the sun.
Watch for any onions that are bolting: a single straight stem
appears which will eventually host the flower. If any are seen
pull up straight away and use in the kitchen using the outer of
the onion removing the central woody stem.
Runner
beans will need to be supported, use 6ft canes for each plant
to go up. Peas will also need some form of support; old sticks
can be placed in the ground for support. Broad beans depending
on the variety may need supporting, usually a stick at the end
of each row with string tied round.
Check perennial plants such as asparagus and globe artichoke.
With asparagus, once it is established which can take a few years
you can pick a few asparagus from each plant over the course of
6 weeks, June/July, after that you stop so the plant can rebuild
for the following year. Globe artichokes should be ready for cutting
at the end of the month, and surplus leave to flower as attracts
pollinating insects.
Add
Comfrey leaves to rain butts to make liquid fertilizer.
By mid July the strawberries should have finished and will be
putting runners out, unless you want new plants cut these off.
Any plants older than four years, it is worth putting new plants
in. Black currants red currants and gooseberry should still be
producing fruit. Summer raspberries will be starting to fruit
this month.
Key dates:
If you have any advice or tips about gardening relating to
this month contact us and if suitable will add to the page - please
local to Haworth and the surrounding area only..
