to theJulyissue of Grow Your Own! Seeminglyout of nowhere, we are here,insummer! What abeautiful timeinthe garden, with long,warmdays, harvests weighing down our trugs, andeverythinginfull bloom–wonderful!
Our contributorsare enjoyingthe bounty of theseason, with Rekha Mistrytakinga moment to appreciatethe Julybounty(page26), MarkLane lookingbackatthe design processofhis space (page10), andJames Martin andhis family spending plenty of timeontheir plot –overrun with tomatoes! (page50).
As with anyother part of theseason, with the greatrewards come some trials, andthe RHShave GuyBarter on hand to solvesomeofyourseasonal issues (page 17), as well as showcasingsomeofthe fantastic events goingonatRHS gardensupand down thecountry to give youplentyofinspiration. It wouldn’t be summer without us takingabout watering(page33), andlong, hotdaystendtomake our mindsdrift towardshow to make our gardens more climatechange-proof (page39) –wehave some fantastic advicetohelpmakeboththatlittlebit easier,and to show what is possibleinany space.
We also have crop focuses on tomatoes (page 47), celery (page 44)and garlic (page 42), so thereis plenty to keep youbusy!
We hope youenjoy theissue!
Happy growing! Laura
Editor LauraHillier
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GYO is proudtosupport the organisationsshown below. Their members writeregularly forthis magazine, ensuringthatyou receive theverylatest top-notchadvice from industryexperts –it’scrucial to us that everything youreadonthese pages can be trusted implicitly.We’realsokeen to protect the environmentand actresponsiblyinthe garden, so will only list man-made garden chemicalswhere organic remedies arenot deemed suitable.Onceyou’veread this magazine, whynot donate it to your local doctors’ or dentists’surgery ?Failing that,magazinescan be put outwithyourrecyclingfor collection.
TOP CROPS! July’s
22
Summer sowings
Glorious garlic
Afocus on this delicious crop that is afavourite in thekitchen andthe garden alike 42
We take this wonderful crop from plot-to-plate, showingitiseasierthan youmight think! 44
Start celery
We shinethe spotlight on some fantastic cropsyou can start this month! Healthy
We shareour tips foravoiding sweetcornsmut– thoughitisa delicacytosome!
JobsPlot on the
It’s timetopick, water, weed andeat,as the home-grownproduce starts rolling in. Fillingany gaps with newveg sowingsand plantings will help you sustainasteadysupplyto thekitchen, so make the most of anyopportunities given. Fruitbushesand canes reach their peak now, andhot on theirtails arethe orchardtrees of autumn.
Containergrowing
It’s crucial to water, water, waterthis month! Irrigate in theevening or morning, andconsideranautomated system if you’retetheredtothe tap.
Quick- maturingcrops (e.g. salad leaves andsummer radishes)will speed away in hotweather –keep sowing shortdrills to maintain supplies in thecomingweeks.
You’ll no doubt be harvestingyour potato barrels; don’ twaste the compost –use it to potupother summer veg, or digitintogarden beds foraspeedyboost
The Herb Garden
Butters are an effective wayto preserve leafyherbs suchas parsley, tarragonand oregano: simply soften apack, mixyour chopped herbsintoit, andpop in thefreezer till needed. Fancya refreshing cup of peppermint tea? Simply addclean sprigs to acup, pour on boilingwater,leave for twominutes –and drink!
Seasonaltasks Thevegetable patch
Carefullylift your garlic once thetop half of thefoliage hasturnedyellow– thebulbs will be deliciously juicy (thisisknown as ‘wet’ garlic).
Tall brassicaslikeBrussels sprouts andkale canget top-heavy, so moundsoilaround thebaseoftheir stemstostabilise them. Julyisthe ideal timetosow Oriental vegetables, suchaspak choi,tatsoi, Chinese cabbage andChinese broccoli, as they prefer theshorteningdays.
Move potted berry cropsintothe warmest, sunniest andmostsheltered site youcan afford,tomaximisesugar levels within thefruits.
Sow asecondbatch of French beansthis month–they’ll stretch your harvest into autumn as your springsowings burnout in midsummer
Keep makingshort drillsofsalad leaves wherever youcan squeeze them onto the plot,and you’ll neverbewithout deliciously freshpickings.
When sowinginhot,dry weather, waterthe base of your drill thoroughlyand then, after sowing, coveritwithdry,crumbly soil and don’twater in.
Gently slip your fork underthe base of shallot clumps andhalf-lift them out of the soil –thiswill start thedryingprocess off, readyfor harvesting.
Keep pickingsweet pepper fruits regularly, as single largefruits on aplant will suppressthe maturity of consequentones. Stop harvestingrhubarb at theend of the month, to allowcrownstimetobuild up food reserveswhich helpstoensurestrong growth next spring.
Undercover
Hot weathermeansthe likelihood of more pests,particular in soaring temperatures in greenhouses.Keep thegreenhouse well -ventilated at all times. Usesticky traps to catchflying pests andidentifyinfestations –and damp down undercoverspace by sprayingwater on thegroundto increase humidity.Ifyou haven’ tdone so already, youmay consider putting up shades or blinds
Just likeyour outdoor edibles, wateringregularlyisvital at this point in theyear.Ifyou’re goingawayon holiday,think aheadand plan for somebodytostopoff andkeep your cropshappy
Encourage extrapickings from tomatoes throughregularharvesting, support swellingmelonswithnetting to avoidthemfallingtothe floor, thin out cucumbers to give extragrowing spaceand improve airflowtostopthe spread of disease.
PROBLEM OF THE MONTH: Powderymildew
This fungaldisease will cause a white, powderysubstance to appear on theleavesand stems, as well as sometimes theflowers andfruit, of theplant it hasaffected.Crops that areespeciallyvulnerable includecourgettes, cucumbers andmarrows, alongwithpeas. It is importanttoreducethe chance of this diseasespreading,soremove anddestroy anyinfected leaves that yousee as soonaspossible. Keeping plants in agood, healthy condition helpsreduce thechanceofinfection, so maintain aconstantmaintenance regimen to minimise this issue.
Fruits of your labour
If your plum, appleorpear trees arebearingone almighty crop, prop up those heavily-laden branches to stop them snapping
As soonasyou’vepickedyour cherries, prunethem– don’tbe temptedtomakecuts in winteras this encourages disease.
Gooseberries andcurrantscan be summer-pruned earlyinthe month –thisgets more sunlightand airto theripeningfruits.
Melon fruitlets will be swelling rapidlyinwarmweather,soensure your plants have amplewater at theirdisposal.
Black- andhybrid berries will be throwinguplongshoots– peg theirtips down andthey’ll root to producenew plants.
Once thelaststrawberry fruits have been picked,trim offall the oldleavesofyour plants to freshen them up
Smarter watering
Getting moisture to yourcrops isn’t just acase of splashing it around .First thingsfirst, try to waterinthe cool of theevening so cropshaveall nighttotakeupwhat you’ ve giventhem.And don’ tjust wetthe surface– give everything agood soak so themoisturegets right to theroots .Water running offthe surface? Then make gullies to allowittopuddle, or laybulky organicmulches so that these hold onto themoisture.Itisalso agood idea to work outwhich of your cropsrequire more water, andwhich don’ tneed suchregular attentionwiththe watering can.
Focus on this :
WGARDEN DIARY MARK’S
Markdiscusses some of the keythingshe consideredwhenstartingtodesignhis newspace
iththe prolongedhot weatheratthe end of springand into summer,manyplants floweredearly,and it hasbeen a challenge keepingmynew garden going, despitefollowingxeriscaping principlesand predominantly plantingdrought-tolerant and adaptableplantsinJuneand into July. That beingsaid, I’m happywiththe garden’s progress.The semi- mature treeshavesettled in well, flowering when required, andtheyhavealready becomeperching places forthe many house martins, house sparrows, barn owls andbuzzardsthatfrequent our garden.
Starting anew garden from scratch can be daunting,whether it’s asmall urbanplotora rollingestate, apatio or abalcony,but with some timeset asidefor researching thebest
plants foryour growingconditions,from soil type to aspect, weatherand rainfall, andselectingmaterialsthathavea small carbon footprintyou cancreatean outdoor spacethatsitswithinthe larger environment or landscape. My toptip is to keep things simple,especially if you’renew to gardening. Only choose a handful of plants, gettoknowhow they grow,whattheir requirements areand then addmore. This wayyou don’ tget overwhelmed with diferingwateringor feeding requirements.
Abig part of my newgardenhas been to focus on localcraftsmen andwomen andartisanswherever possible, from weavers to carpenters, stonemasonstolandscapers, as well as localnurseries andspecialistnurseries. This also grounds thegardeninthe localcraftsand givesita sense of place.
I’mveryfondofmynew drystone walls. Iknowthese area bitofaluxury,
but I’vealwayswantedtoincludethem in agarden, andminewas theperfect choice,echoing themanydrystone wallsthatborderthe fieldsclose to our house. Of course, apartfromcreating plantinggaps in thewalls forsaxifrages andsedums, thegapshavebecome hideawaysfor local beetles, pollinators, insects andinvertebrates. Allthe stonefor these wallscamefroma local quarry,and aseam actuallygoes underour garden, so we couldn’t getany more local. To tie in with this stone, Iselected tumbled, thin clay pavers to give alived -in feel andto break up thewinding pathways. Onearea of clay pavers hasbecomeasecondpatio area, whichisinthe sun all day.
Thehardlandscapingpalette is made of soft greysand amber to tie in with the house, whichisaconverted wooden duck barn.The plantingisinshadesofyellow, white, purpleand pink,withshots of red andorange.I’vemimickedthe colours
an fie ornamental grasses, suchas Sesleria autumnalis, Deschampsia cespitosa, Luzula nivea, Sporobolusheterolepis Stipa gigantea, Calamagrostis brachytricha, Calamagrostis acutiflor ‘KarlFoerster ’, Hakonechloamac ra, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’, Mo caerulea ‘Heidebraut’, Panicumvirga ‘Prairie Sky’ and Panicumvirgatum ‘CheyenneSky ’. I’vealsoplanted gras likeplants, suchas Libertiagrandiflor and Liriope muscari.Intime, thegra will knit together andblur theplantin into thelargerlandscape.
To keep costs down,Isowed many seeds in thespring, bought plug plants and grew them on
Of course, buildinganew garden from scratch is notcheap.Tokeep costs down,Isowedmanyseedsinthe spring, bought plug plants andgrew them on in thegreenhouse, as well as 9cm potted plants. Inever wanted an instantgarden, but thesemi- maturet certainlygivethe newgardenasense of permanency, even in itsfirst year.I also growingafew plants that I’ve ne grownbefore. Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa’, Rhaphiolepis xdelacourii ‘Co Crimson’ and Leptospermum scopar ‘Red Damask’. The stephanandra is a groundcoverplant with whiteflowers that aresimilar to hawthorn,which I’m growinginthe garden and the rhaphiolepis is also knownasIndian hawthorn.Iknowthe latter is only hardyto-10 degrees Celsius, but I’ve createdamicro- climateand keepingm fingers crossed. Thesamegoes forthe leptospermum or teatree. As I’ve never grownthese beforeIshall keep aclose eyeonthe weatherforecastand will be primed with horticultural fleece, should thetemperaturedropbelow minus ten.
Lettuce ‘Salad Bowl’
Grow thisnon-heartingvariety forsummer saladsorafresh accompanimenttomainmeals. The leavesare easy to grow andare a good source of vitamins
Sowseedsoutsideatadepth of 1.5cm, into apre-preparedpatch of soil. Space rows at adistanceof25cm apart. Youwill starttosee seedlings develop within onetotwo weeksfromsowing. It’s
FR EE SEEDS!
Addtoyour
agood idea to applyprotection to early sowings,withcloches
Baby leaves can be harvestedwhenthey areready,but if growingfor larger plants, thin so theremaining plants are20cm apart. Keep thesewell-watereduntil they areestablished.
Fora continuous supplyofsalad leaves, sowseedsevery twoorthree weeks. Pickthe leaves when they arethe size youdesire. This varietycan be grownas cut-and-come-again baby leaves,soyou can harvestthemaroundfour times.
Sorrel ‘Red Ve ined’
These flavoursomeleavesare simple to grow at home,and area greatway to addaninteresting, somewhatlemonlike, taste to your summer cooking. Suitable forcontainergrowing, they are also greatfor beginner growers, too. With attractive redveininginthe leavestheyare adecorativeaswellas goodness-packedaddition to theplot.
Lettuce ‘Lol la Ro ss a’
With itsgreen leaves, toppedwith dark-red frills, this is oneofthe prettiest lettucesthatcan be grownin thegarden. OriginatingfromItaly:the frothed tops give this redleaflettuce a crisp textureand it is mouth-watering as thebaseofa huge salad, with alittle dressing drizzled overit. Youcan grow lettuce ‘Lolla Rossa’ in thegardenorin containers, so it is very versatile.
SowseedsthinlyoutsidefromMarch to August wheretheyare to crop,atadepth of 1cm. Makesuretoplant in soil that has been raked to a finetilth So in ro 30cm plant
a ed e t w your seeds ows, allowing between nts.
Sowoutdoors
Seedscan be sown directly outsideatadepth of 2.5cm into apreprepared patchofsoil–weed and waterbeforesowing. Spacerowsat adistanceof30cmapart from each othertoallow theleavesspace to mature
Youwill start to seeseedlings developin14to21days, so keep an eyeonyourbedsand make sureyou
have pestand weatherprotectiontohand. Throughout growth make sure that this crop is wateredsothatthe earthiskept consistently moist.
To achieveafrequentsupplyofsorrel throughout thesummer sowseeds everytwo or threeweeks –known as successionalsowing.
When harvesting youcan take baby leaves forcut-and-come-again crops–they will produce foraroundthree harvests.Alternatively,ifgrowing formatureharvests, thin plants to adistanceof15cm, andharvest when fullydeveloped.
Seedlings should appear within fivesevendays. When largeenoughtohandle, thin to 30cm apart, unless youwill be growingfor baby leaves,inwhichcase, thinningisnot required
Waterthe ground regularly especially duringdry periods.
These gorgeousflowers are hardy perennials, makingthema greatand low-maintenance addition to abusy garden. Thebloomsare idealfor cutting, andare long-lasting,giving youa real bang foryour buck!
Forthe best results, sowindoors 1.5cm deep in atrayofgood-qualitycompost. Waterwell, andplace thetrayinan unheatedgreenhouse, or acoldframe to give some protectionfromany late frosts whileseedsgerminate
Keep thetraymoist, andyou should noticeseedlingsstartingtoemergein 14-28days.
Transplant theseedlingsindividually once they arerobust enough to handle As ever,alwaysmakesureyou handle youngplantsbythe leaves rather than thestemtoavoid damage
Graduallyaccustom theplantsto outdoor conditions by leavingthem outsidefor increasing amounts of time each day, across acouple of weeks(a
processknown as hardeningoff ).
Plantout,40cmapart, to give theflowers adequate spacetogrowontofull size
Youcan also sowoutside in awellprepared seedbed whichhas already been watered.
Keep thesoilmoist andfreefrom weedswhich will competewiththe flowers forresources.
Enjoythese gorgeousbloomsright across thesummer months –theyare great forthe bees!
Pansy ‘Cool S ummer Breeze ’
Abeautiful choice forthe garden, with stunningclumps of these little flowers, with brightyellowcentres andpetals in varyingshadesfromwhite through to purple–a real focalpoint in beds andborders!
If youwantthese plants to flower in the sameyear as yousow them,plant indoors, 0.5cm deep in atrayofgood-quality compost.
Placethe tray on awarmwindowsill (15-20°Cisideal), andkeep evenlymoist Germinationshouldoccur in 14-21days.
Once theseedlings arelarge enoughto handle,you will need to transplant them
into trayswith5cm spacings between the youngplants.
Harden offthe pansies(gradually acclimatisingthemtooutdoor conditions, whichusuallytakes aroundtwo weeks) Plantout,15cm apart –makingsureto wait untilthe risk of frostshas passed. Alternatively, youcan sowoutdoors, in finelypreparedand pre-wateredsoil, 0.5cm deep
Thin theseedlings out to their 5cm spacings,beforemovingtotheir final flowering positions –usuallyin late summer.Space plants 15cm apart to allow them adequateroomtogrowon.
RHS July
CanI save work by pruning andharvesting blackcurrants?
In theory,yes youcan prunethe blackcurrantsasyou harvest, cuttingout onethird of theshoots, choosingthe oldest ones,tonear thebaseand stripping thefruit beforeaddingthe shoots to the bonfireheap.New shoots that will crop in 2026will then arise. Commercial growers harvestby machine whichtrashes theplants, so they aremownbackand given ayear’s rest,while theother half is harvested. Youcould trythisat home but it is rather ‘bold’.
Theadvantage of winterpruning is that regrowth will be stronger, as theplant’s food resources will be in theroots,and also gardeners have alot more time in winter!
Should Ibefeeding my potted blueberries?One of them has died. Useliquid ‘blueberry feed’tonourish blueberries, as this is richinammonia nitrogen. Blueberries do notefficiently usenitratesfound in most otherliquid feedsand excess nitrates canharmthem. Feedssoldfor lime-hatingorericaceous plants (blueberries areericaceous) can also be used. Feedingonceamonth is sufficient–blueberries arenot particularly ‘hungry’ plants
Your dead blueberry probably died from root disease ratherthanlackof nutrients. They areratherprone to a
fungus-likedisease called Phytophthora whichrotsroots andthe base of the planeturning theroots reddishand often causing dead streaks up thestem. Thereisnoremedyexceptto replacethe plantinanew potwithnew ericaceouspottingcompost. Blueberries areexpensive so it is wise to buyfromanoutlet that offers alongguarantee.
To preventdisease, repotplantsevery twoyearsorso, takingoff 30per cent of oldcompost andreplacingthiswith newmaterial. This keeps drainage good whichisanimportantway of preventing Phytophthora.
What is top-dressing andshould Ibe doing it?
Top- dressing refers to adding some more fertiliser,usuallynitrogenrichmaterials, to growingcrops in midtolatesummer to boost growth.The soil fertility can be depleted by then. Wise gardeners keep their soil fertilebyaddingplenty of rotted manureorgardencompost,
either dug in before planting or as mulch This decomposes during warm summer weatherreleasing sufficientnutrients to keep plants growingwithout further feedingthroughoutsummer.
Wheremanuringand mulchingwere omittedorplantsappear to be more yellow than they should be,extra fertiliser can be addedand ideallywatered or
Is there anything Ican sow toreplace my broad beanswhen they’vefinished cropping French beanscan be sown up to early August the south, butrunner beansand courgettes are possibleinearly July andcan addauseful crop as thesummer ones decline. Florence fennel,p choi andother Asiangreenscan also succeed from an early July sowing.
Salads, lettuce, endive,chicory,summer an winterradishes, areall potentialcrops, forbot southern andnortherngardeners.
Swedes can make smallroots if sown in ear July,but kohl rabi andturnips aremorereliabl andcan be sown until mid-August.
Forfutureyears consider raisingsomeof these cropsincelltrays duringJuneinreadine to plantout when thebeansare cleared, so you getaflyingstart
Frenchbeans canbe sown up to early August in thesouth,but runner beans and courgettes are possible in early July
hoed in.Driedchicken manure pellets area good choice –add about 100g per square metrefor leafygreen crops.
Top- dressing aftermid-August can lead to soft growth whichisvulnerable to winterweather.Also, some of the fertiliserwon’t have been usedand mightbelostunder winterrain, potentiallyleading to pollution
RHSGardenBridgewater
Forest Bathing in Summer at RHS Garden Bridgewater
Thursday 10thJuly
Batheinthe summer glow of RHSGarden Bridgewater’swoodland, allowingtime to stop,reflect andjoinarestorative ‘Shinrin Yoku’,the Japanese practiceof Forest Bathing. Your tutor LauraJohnson is aShinrin Yoku practitionerand Forest TherapyGuide, trainedbyNature& TherapyUK. Duringthisworkshopyou will learnthe historyand philosophyofForest Bathing, theapproach, healthbenefits andwhattoexpect from thepractice. You willthenexperience aseries of mindful, sensory activities in thewoodland, the activities aredesignedtohelpyou quieten your mind,fullyengage with nature and transitionintoacalm, peacefullypresent
Diary dates
Lookingfor some gardeninginspiration?
Here’s what’s going on at the RHSgardens this July
state. Theforestbathing experience is an opportunitytoescape thenoise of our everyday lives, feel groundedand reconnect with ourtrue selves.Itallowsa sense of wonder andcuriosity, thefreedom to be presentand to feel alive. Youwill leavelighter,lifted andcalmer, andarmed withthe knowledge andskillstotakethis wellbeingpractice into your everyday. rhs.org.uk/gardens/rhs-gardenbridgewater
BridgewaterLates:Evening Chill
Friday 18thJuly
Chillout in thegardenoutside of normal openinghours. Enjoythe eveningasthe sun starts to setoverSalford.Pizza,cake anda range of hotand cold drinks will be availablefromthe StablesCafe. Enjoyyour refreshments in fhecafe’sseating area,
oneofour deckchairs or feel free to bring your ownoutdoor chairorpicnic blanket. Enjoylivemusic from local musician HaydnOwen. Haydnisreturning to RHS GardenBridgewaterafter thesuccess of his performance at last year’s EveningChill. He will play music that spansthe decadesbut allsongs youwill know andlove. Haydn will perform twosets,bothwithdifferent songs. Please note last orders forpizza is 7pmand thecafeclosesat8pm.The retail area is open until9pm rhs.org.uk/gardens/rhs-gardenbridgewater
RHSHarlowCarr
What nowJuly/August
Friday 11th July
Oneofthe most popularseries of workshopswithOlive Green. Summer now
