What to do in the garden in July

We can't believe that July is here so quickly and have been really pleased to see that the recent warm and wet weather combined has encouraged the production of our first courgettes, broad beans, lettuce and spinach!
If you are a little behind, there is still time to check if there are any jobs you missed from June HERE.

July Jobs

- If you havent yet, keep on top of moss and algae as the weather is dry enough to apply Batimoss, the mosskiller that can be left on the surface to act systemically. Don't apply in the heat of midday, as the product may evaporate before the moss gets the chance to absorb it. Instead apply in the evening if possible, when the moss is looking for moisture.

- Whilst you are cleaning your patio and paths, check for perennial weeds. Apply Hydromoss as a water repellent sealant to prevent the regrowth of moss and algae and deter weeds by creating a barrier against rain water.

- Use our organic lawn fertiliser to protect the grass from weeds and moss.

- Don't forget to keep all pots well watered. Use our water storing crystals in the pots to help keep the pots full of moisture during dry spells.

- Keep on top of maintenance. Weed around strawberries and apply a mulch of clean straw or our mulch mats. Continue to earth up potatoes.

- Watch out for aphids on strawberries, indoor tomatoes and roses. Use our ladybird larvae as natural pest control.

What to plant in July

- You can start pegging out the runners of selected early strawberry plants now, limited to just a few per plant. When they have their own roots well anchored to the soil, you can detach them from the parent plant. If a strawberry plant is over 3 years old, many like to get rid of them now and concentrate on the younger plants!

- When early plants have finished such as potatoes, early peas and broad beans, clear them away to make room for catch crops such as lettuce, carrots etc.

- Plant out late cabbages without delay. This is also the latest time for Autumn broccoli and cauliflower. - Use cabbage collars to protect brassicas from the cabbage root fly. Also watch out for the cabbage white butterfly, squash the eggs and apply our caterpillar killing nematodes to kill the caterpillars before they devour your crop!

- Continue to plant out lettuces and spinach. These plants are great for successional sowing to give you a continuous crop. Continue to sow herbs. (Dry extra herbs for keeping).

- Sow Swiss chard. Whilst not very common in the UK, it is a gtreat crop that supplies leaves over a prolonged period.

- Use a hoe to keep the plot free of weeds and fertilise onions.

- Continue to thin small seedlings such as beetroot and carrots.

Spray tomato plants overhead to encourage the flowers to set.

Mound up Brussels sprouts around stems.