July 2008
Welcome to the GardenAction newsletter for July 2008 in your garden.
Brussels Sprouts should not normally be fed during July, but they will really appreciate a mulch with well rotted compost or other organic material. This will help preserve water round the roots. Brussels sprouts do not like being short of water.
Click here for more information on caring for Brussels Sprouts.
CARROTS
Carrots should be kept watered and weeded during July. In many areas, carrot seed can continue to be sown until mid-July. Do remember to thin out any recently sown carrots seedlings to ensure that competition for water is kept to the minimum. Unless your soil very poor in nutrients, carrots do not need feeding.
Continue to harvest carrots during July - if
you have any doubts on how to pull carrots,
there is a section on this in the link below.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions.
LETTUCE
Continue to sow lettuce until mid-July. Lettuce
are cool weather plants so keep them well
watered and mulch them now the hot weather has
arrived if this has not already been done. If
you can choose a spot out of the mid-day sun,
all the better. Lettuce harvesting should be in
full swing during July.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions.
PEASIn July, water is the main need of pea plants. Water well in dry conditions and if you haven't already mulched around them, do this after a good watering. Check the supports to make sure they are strong and secure.
Peas planted early in the season should be
ready for harvest late June to early July. Pick
them young for the sweetest peas of all!
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on sowing peas.
FRENCH BEANSIn July French Beans need to be kept well watered and they appreciate a feed every couple of weeks. Mulch around them if possible. The critical time for watering is when they are in flower which is different for each variety. Don't forget to pinch out the growing tips when they reach the tops of their supports if they are the climbing variety.
There are four pages of advice and pictures
on French Beans on the GardenAction site and the
last one is devoted to pests and diseases which
attack French Beans. If you have any problems,
take a look by clicking on the link below.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on caring for your french beans.
RADISHSow radishes over a period of months to avoid a glut. They can continue to be sown in July. The best position will be sunny but not too hot. If the plants get too hot they will bolt and run to seed, so try to avoid placing them where they get the full sun in the early afternoon.
At the same time you should be harvesting previously sown radish. Radish require only water in July, dont feed them.
At the very end of July you can begin to sow
winter radish, but spread this out over August
and early September to ensure a supply over a
long period time.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on sowing radishes.
TOMATOESWater and feeding are the main needs of tomatoes during July. If you are applying a liguid feed, use tomato plant feed which will be higher in potash than normal liquid feeds. This encourages fruit growth over leaf growth. As the plants grow, make sure you continue to tie them into their supports.
Tomato plants very often produce too many
tomatoes which leads to small fruit which
matures late in the season. To stop this
happening pinch out all but six or so trusses of
tomatoes. This can be done any time in July -
the earler the better. Remove all foliage that
is touching the ground to avoid disease. Also,
be ruthless and cut back some foliage if the
centre of the plant is becoming congested. Do
click on the link below for more details,
especially on how to prune tomatoes.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on tomatoes.
ONIONSOnions are good news in July because they require almost no attention other than weeding and watering if conditions become really dry.
Japanese Onions sown last year should be
ready for harvest in late June to early July.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on growing onions.
RUNNER BEANS
Runner Beans are also good news in July. Just
keep them watered and they will do fine.
Remember to pinch out the growing tips when they
reach the top of the supports. If you are going
on holiday in July make absolutely sure that the
supports are strong enough.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on growing runner beans.
RHUBARB
Rhubarb should still be harvestable at the
moment but this will end in early July. Other
than that, let your rhubarb grow happily on it's
own for a month or so.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on growing rhubarb.
MAINCROP and NEW POTATOESNew potatoes should be in peak condition now for harvesting. Continue to harvest them throughout July.
Maincrop potatoes should have their flowers
removed as they appear in July. This will help
the plant concentrate it's efforts on producing
tasty potatoes. In mid July, spray the plants
with Bordeaux mixture (available from most
garden centres) to prevent attack from botryitis.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on growing potatoes.
SWEET CORN
Sweet corn are very easy vegetables to care for.
Their needs in July are simple, water when dry
and a fortnightly feed. The best feed is one
rich in potassium - tomato plant liquid feed is
ideal
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on growing sweet corn.
WINTER CABBAGE
Winter Cabbage should be growing well by now and
will appreciate a water when the dry weather
comes. Feed with a nitrogen rich compost or
liquid rich feed. Hoeing around the plant during
July will break up the surface soil and deter
pests.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions.
SUMMER CAULIFLOWER
Nothing complicated for summer cauliflower in
July, just water and weeding.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions.
SPRING CABBAGE
Spring Cabbage should be sown outside at the end
of July - they will be ready for harvest in
March next year when there is not much else
available from the vegetable garden.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions.
BROCCOLI
In July it's water that broccoli need most. They
are especially vulnerable to drought when the
heads begin to form.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions.
BEETROOT
Beetroot can still be sown up to early July.
Continue to thin out seedlings as they emerge -
thin to 10cm (4in) apart for round or globe
varieties and 15cm (6in) apart for long
varieties.
Click here
for easy to follow instructions
on growing beetroot.
Now is the time start thinning out excessive fruit. This will ensure that the ones that remain are in peak condition. As a rule of thumb make sure there is about 10cm (4in) between fruits. Also remove any fruits that look diseased.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.
RASPBERRIES
At the beginning of July it's a good idea to spray raspberry plants with copper fungicide and derris for a second time. This will greatly help to prevent fungal diseases attacking the plants. Raspberries will be ready for harvest at the end of July and the beginning of August.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.
STRAWBERRIES
When fruit production stops remove all straw, and cut off all leaves that show any signs of disease.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.
GOOSEBERRIES
July is the time to harvest your gooseberries and enjoy them.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.
HERBS
All the main herbs can be fed this month. Keep them watered if in pots. If in the ground, only water in very dry conditions.
Click here for easy to follow instructions.
RUDBECKIA
Rudbeckia originate from North America, this is why they like the sun in summer, but are very hardy - North America has freezing winters, but gloriously warm summers. Both annual and perennial varieties are readily available.
The reason for being nicknamed 'coneflower'
is the black cone which is in the centre of
their flowers. Use them as border plants, or in
pots. They come into flower around the end of
July, with medium sized golden yellow blooms,
and will last well past most other plants, right
up to the beginning of November. They are
excellent as cut flowers for flower arrangements
in the house.
GARDENACTION ADDRESS:
1 Gaydon Hill Farm Cottage, Gaydon, Warwick CV35
0HQ
This spaghetti bolognaise recipe is rich in tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and herbs. Other vegetables can also be added to reduce the amount of meat used - we have found that chopped grated carrots go well with the mixture. This is a favorite regular meal in our house, kids and adults both love it.
It's ideal for the forgetful chef because it can cook from anything between 30 minutes and an hour and a half with no obvious effect on the flavour. Great if you have guests coming but are not sure exactly when.
Make a large batch of it and you can have
your meal and then freeze the rest in small
plastic pots for later in the month. It tastes
even better when cooked from frozen because all
the flavours blend in so well.
Click here
for this delicious recipe.
Dill is used in love and protection. The dried seed heads hung in the home, over doorways, and above cradles provides protection. Add the herb to your bath to make you absolutely irresistible to your lover.
