to theJuneissue of Grow Your Own!Weare on thecusp of summer, andplots arethriving, with plants puttingongrowthevery day. It is greattosee, andweare also enjoyingsomeofthose delicious harvests from speedycrops as arewardfor ourhard work so far.
Our experts arekeeping busyontheir plots–with MarkLaneaddingplentyofvibrant colour to hishomegarden(page 10), Simon Akeroydgiving hisflavour garden aboostwithsweetcorn (page 57), RekhaMistrycontinuing to care forher small spacesanctuary(page 36), andJames Martin’s family allotment plot keepinghim and hischildren busy(page64). Speakingoflittleonesonthe plot, aheadofthe summerholidaysweare showcasing some fantastic family gardeningprojects, perfect for encouragingthe next generation of green fingers (page73) -somakesurethe childreninyour life give them ago!
As well as this,weare stepping throughthe gates of some wonderful gardenstovisitthissummer (page88) andexamining thewellbeingbenefits of gardening(page62), whilealsokeepingupwith plentiful practicalprojects, likemakingplant feeds (page38), solvingcommongardenproblems(page 44), howtogrowkale(page 80), courgettes (page 60), andradishes(page26).
As ever,we’dlovetohearfromyou andsee pictures of your plots, so do getintouchonour social mediaplatforms.
We hope youenjoy theissue, andhappy growing!
Laura
Editor LauraHillier
ON THECOVER
Enjoyyour free seeds! (digital copies excluded)
If you’dliketokeep up to speed with the latest GYOnewsand developments as they occur, whynot follow us on X, Instagram or Facebook?You can find us at @GYOmag. @growyourownmagand facebook.com/ growyourownmag.You can also join our thriving forum at growfruitandveg.co.uk
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 trustedimplicitly. We’realsokeen to protect the environment andact responsiblyinthe 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! June’s
Expert advicetoinspire youtogrowmoreinthe fruitand veg garden this month
26
Speedyroots
We shareastep-by-stepguide to growingpeppery, delicious radishes to addtosalads
Afocus on thecrops youcan get in thegroundright now– from seed or plant!
28
Go heritage
These historic cropsare underthe spotlight this month, andweexamine why youshouldgrowthem
Family fun
Asuper speedycrop, fun for growers of allages, here’s howto grow your owncress
Courgettemasterclass
Notorious forbeinggenerous croppers, we look at howtogrow thesefantasticsummersquash 60
Amust- grow on allotments up anddownthe country, give this superfood atry! 80
Cultivate kale
Whattosow
JobsPlot on the
Thefirst harvests–fromthe quickest-maturing crops– will be startingtoarriveduringJune, and it’s always anicelittletasterofwhat’s to come laterinthe season, if you stay on topoftraining, feeding andwateringthose that arealittle slowertoproduce pickings.Hereisa round-up of your keyJunetasks.
TheHerb Garden
Containergrowing
If you’refindingthatyour pots ared alittletoo quickly(somethingofa co problem forany containergardener) movingthemtoa positionwhere thei areinthe shade, or clustersmallerp aroundtoshieldthemand maintain soil moisture.
If youhaven’t alreadydoneso, sowd French beansincontainers.Mostva grow to about 50cm tall,sothey’re ideal forbalcony or patio gardeners Nowisalsoanideal timetoget in Orie veg, likepak choi,choisum, andkom Many areshallow-rootedsomakegre containersubjects.
Keep your salad bowl freshlytopped makinga note to sowlettuceand spinachinto pots everythree to four weeks, so you’ll never runout during thesummer months
Harvestoregano andmint now. Pickthese andother leafyherbs in themorning, whichwill help to ensure they stay fresherfor longer, rather than taking pickings at thepeak heat of theday Leaveafew foliageherbs to flowerinorder to please localwildlifevisitingyour plot.Oregano will attract aphid-eatinghoverflies and beautiful butterflies adore mint blooms.
Seasonaltasks
Thevegetable patch
It’s time to plantout sweetcorn. Do this in blocks,spacing transplants25cm apart each way. This grid planting gives optimum pollination andkernelnumbers. Courgetteand squashes shouldbegoing outsidenow,too.Upcyclea largefizzy drinks bottle by sinkingitintothe ground next to your plants (upturned andwith thebottomcut off) foreasywatering. As tempting as it maybetocarry on, it’s important to stop cuttingasparagus spears at theend of this monthtoallow your plants to recoverfor next season
Your earlypotatoesshouldbeready to lift this month, so getstuck in andenjoy with lashings of butter! Continue to earthup anylater varieties that areonthe go,too, in ordertomaximisethe number you’ll getlater in theyear.
Regularlyremove sideshoots on cordon (indeterminate) tomatoes to focus the plant’senergiesonproducing productive fruittrusses
Repeatedly sowshort drillsofquickmaturingcrops likebabyturnips, summerradishes, rocket,cut-and-comeagainsalads, baby carrotsand spinach. Sowinglittleand oftenwillmean harvests come thickand fast,but youdon’t have an excess of veggoing to waste.
Peas andbroad beanswill bematuring quicklyinthe heat of summer weather. Pick overyourplantsevery dayortwo, to ensureyou harvestthe podsattheir very best,and to encourage more podsto develop, too. arf ieties will
Undercover
Greenhouse shadingcan help to protect undercoverplantsfromgetting scorched in thehot summer sun. Give some thought nowtowhether you’ve got shadingpaint or blinds from last year, or whetheryou’ll need to invest in some newshadingsoyou’reprepared.
On hotter days, open anywindowvents anddoors to maintain asteadyairflow throughout your structure. This will help to keep plants happyand healthy, but willalsohelptokeep youcoolwhenyou have to do anyworkinthe greenhouse. Duringwarmspells, waterunder-cover cropsdaily andconsiderdampingdown thegroundtoupmoisturelevels.
Begin takingoff thelowerleavesof tomato plants as fruits ripen up.Remove thefirst pepper that sets on each plant, to allow others to form,too
PROBLEM OF THE MONTH:
Slugsand snails
They don’ttakemuchintroduction, as their reputationprecedesthem. But with their voracious appetites,slugs andsnailswill take as muchpleasure in your crops as youdo, if givenhalf thechance. You’ll neverrid your plot of them allbut youcan definitelykeep numbers down to manageable levels. Deter them from your plot by making lifehardfor them –bombard with organicdeterrents, naturalpredators suchasfrogs andbirds,and night-time slug andsnail hunts to pick them off your crops in an eco-friendlyway.
Fruits of your labour
If you’dliketopropagate extra strawberries, nowisthe timetodoit. Pegdownhealthy runners into pots andcut them offoncethey’ve rooted
Makesurethatany trees, bushes or vines growingagainst wallsor in containers arekeptwellwatered duringthe crucial fruitset period.
If you’vebeen givingpot-grown fruits abalancedliquid feed, nowisthe timetoswitchtoa high-potashone to boost your harvests.
As soonasyour cherries show any sign of turning red, coverthemin netting. Ideallycage wholetrees, but alternativelyyou cancloak individual stems.
Thin out excess orchardfruits at the endofthe month, once trees have naturallyshedtheir poor-quality fruitlets viathe ‘Junedrop’
Both outdoor andindoorgrapevines will benefitfroma good summer pruning. Reducethisyear’s growth by half,unlessit’sneeded to buildthe framework.
Focus on this :
Tomato plantcare
Rightnow, and dependingon when you got them started,your tomato plants could be anything fromyoung seedlings in thefirststages of growth, to bushy, healthy crops abouttobear harvest. June is agood month to finishplanting outdoor toms, andifyou haven’ thad time to sow your own,consider buying plugssoyou canstillenjoy juicy red rewards before theseason is over. Indoorplants should be growing strongly, andassoon as thefirsttrusses appear,begin using ahighpotashfeed –these are hungry little crops,after all. Allow up to six trussestoformon greenhouse cordontomatoes or four on outdoor ones, as soon as this number is reached pinchout thetop of plants.
TGARDEN DIARY MARK’S
Markisaddingvibrant colour to hisspace this month– andyou can, too!
he warmth of summer is here.Thisyear,April and Mayhavebeen warm anddry with theodd shower, and, therefore, many of my herbaceous perennials have put on grow th andstarted flowering. Often, at this timeofthe year,though, thegardencan ‘drop’ in termsof colour.Spring’sbright, freshhues areending, so theJunegardencan be quite devoid of colour.Yet,asthe monthprogresses, you’ll see arisein summer colour.So, howdowefill this ‘gap’inthe garden?
Fortunately, many flowering plants canbridge this gap. Some mayflower from MayintoJune, others just in June, andthose that start flowering towardsthe endofthe monthand continue throughout summer.June ofers theoptimal growingconditions with longerdaysand warmer
temperatures. Thesoilisgenerally warm enoughtoencourage robust grow th,makingita good timetosow seedsand transplant seedlings.With careful planning, your Junegardencan be awashwithcolour,texture, scent, shape andform.
At home,the main area of thegarden is beingtransformed from lawn to large borders andmeanderingpathways, with many plants chosen to mimicthe local flora foundinLincolnshire. Because of budgetary constraints, Iordered many young,moduleplants, 9cmpotted plants, andbare- rooted plants earlier in theyear,and I’vebeen growingthem on,sothatwhenthe hard landscaping is completed, Ican getonwithplantingup my newgarden. I’vebought some larger specimenstogivethe garden structure. I’ve optedfor Euonymus alatus, Acer campestre, Cornus mas, Crataegus spp., Acer griseum,aswellassome
dwarfpines to mergethe garden into the local woodlands, namely Pinus strobus ‘Radiata’, P. densiflora ‘AliceVerkade’and P. pinea,invarious sizes.
In ordertobridge theJunegap,I’ve chosen thefollowingplants: Iris sibirica ‘WhiteAmber ’; I. germanica ‘Sultan’s Palace’; I. Louisiana ‘Ann Chowning ’; I. pumila ‘BrightButton’; I. pumila ‘Hocus Pocus’and I. pumila ‘Demon’; Centaureaatropurpurea; Armeriamaritima ‘Pink’; A. pseudoarmeria ‘BallerinaRed’; Nepetafaassenii; Saxifraga arendsii ‘BlutenteppichPink’; Astrantiamajor ‘RubyCloud’; Euphorbia x martini; Rodgersia aesculifolia; Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’; Geum ‘Pretticoats Pink’; G.‘ MaiTai’; and G.‘ Leonard’sVariety’…tonamejusta few.
To cre I’vebe grasse ‘Red Cl Panicum P. virgatum ‘Squaw autumnalis, Luzula Calamagrostis x ac Foerster ’, Deschamp ‘G oldtau’ and Hakon mac ra I’m also grow floweringperennia muscari and Liber Plantinginamatrix grasses and30per will give thegarde that will blendseaml neighbouringcoun
oud , M. sinensis Pink Clo virgatum ‘Shenandoah
and
Ihaveaddedm fruittrees to thegar ‘Draper and‘ Libert existingblueberry twohoneyberry bus me tasty additionsf apricot ‘Tomcot’,che mirabelleplum ‘Coun nectarine‘ Madame peach ‘Sanguined with delicious, mout I’m also growingras Treasure’,blackberry ‘LochNess strawberry ‘MallingCentenary ’and ‘Elegance’.I’m notexpectinga large harvest this year from theseplants. Frui trees andbushesare an investmentfor thefutureand will only getbetteryear on year
Of course, planting in Juneand July isn’ tideal; however, we’ve‘beefed up’ thesoilbyaddinglotsofwell- rotted manure, screened topsoil andaslowreleasefertiliser,aswellashorticultura sandfor those plants that requirereally free- draining conditions.However, as long as Ikeep an eyeonthem, waterand deadhead regularly,theywill see me throughsummer,autumn andwinter. Then, come 202 6, thegarden, having settled in forcirca sixmonths, will start all overagain.
FR EE SEEDS!
Addthe
GreekOregano
This flavour-packedcropisvery popular in Greekand Italian recipes. Take alittle bitoftimetonurtureitand youwon’t regret it.
Fill small pots with multi-purpose compost andsow theseedsindividually, 0.5cm deep.Water thesoilthoroughly and leaveinawarmspot. Keep temperatures between 15 and20°C
Grow on in slightly cooler conditions and decidewhether youwantyourcroptogo
outdoorsor stay undercover.Onceyou see rootspokingout of thebottomofthe pot then move it to aslightlybiggerone Foroutdoor edibles,waituntil Mayor Junetoplant them on theplot, leaving 20cm between each one. Make sure thesoiliswarmbeforeyou do this Alternatively, youcan sowdirectly outdoors, 0.5cm deep between April andMay,justmakesurethe last frosts have passed.
Amatch made in heavenwithfish dishes, parsleyisafantastic crop to grow all year round. It can besowed outsideorinsideand theplantsrequire minimal caretoflourish.The large leavesofthisvarietywill pack amassive flavour punch in multiple meals. Getthe very best outofthisdeliciousedible by followingthese simple steps.
Garlic chives
Lookingfor theperfect ingredient for herbal butter?Garlic chives arehardy andtasty,witha slight garlic taste, andare an attractive addition to the plot.The flowers canevenbeeaten on topofsaladsorinstir fries.
Sowoutdoors
Sowseeds0.5cm deep,between March andMay,intosmall pots of compost. Makesurethe potiswellwateredand placeinapositionthatwill stay at 15-20°C
Seedlings usuallyemergewithin14to 21 days, afterwhich they can be placed in acoolerlocation.
Sowoutdoors
Startingthese seedsoutdoorscan be done between Marchand July. Preparethe bed,and ensurethe spot hasfree-draining soil forbestresults. Waterthe ground thoroughlyand sowthinly, 1.5cm deep wherethe plants aretocrop.
Within threeweeks youshouldsee seedlings emerge,thentheycan then be thinned to allow30cmbetween each plant. Waterwelluntil they areestablished and
Slowly harden plants off, avoiding frosts, andthenplant out 20cm apart. If youwanttogrowgarlic chiveson indoorsinpots, they can be sown all year round.
remembertoprotect thevulnerableleaves from frost damage throughautumn and winter. Youcan do this with horticultural fleece, cloches, or by movingpotsunder coveroverthe wintermonths.
Grow undercover
If youfancy pickingparsleyall year round, whynot give windowsill growing ago? Fill smallpotswithagood-quality multipurposecompost andsow theseeds at adepth of 0.5cm.Cover them overwith more soil andwater well.
Keep your pots in warm conditions with atemperaturebetween 15-20°C.Choose a lightspace once germinationhas occurred to ensureasuccessful crop.
It’s best to grow afew plants andpick theleavesevenlyasrequired to avoid stunting growth
Grow undercover
Sow0.5cm deep into small pots or undercoverborders, wateringand finelypreparingthe soil.
Once seedlings emerge,you’ll need to thin them to 20cm spacings
Harvestoutdoor cropsfromJune. Cutleavesoncetheyare 15cm tall. Pick afew leaves at atimesothey grow back quickly. Harvest evenlyas required to avoidstuntinggrowth. You can cutunder covercrops year-round.
Marigol d ‘(Fre nc h)
Re dC herry ’
These beautiful flowers arethe perfect addition to anyplot –perfect in borders, or forcontainer growing. Thebloomsare long-lastingand they flowerthroughoutthe summer months,makingthema fantastic choice forthose lookingtoadd a vibrantpop of colour
Sowunder coverfor thebest results, between Februaryand April. Sowseeds 0.5cm deep,intrays of good-quality compost. Water well andplace in awarm position. Atemperatureof15-20°Cis ideal forgermination.
Keep moistthe soil consistently moist. Seedlings shouldappearin14-21 days aftersowing.
Once largeenoughtohandle, transplant theseedlings, 5cm apart, to othertrays, andgrowonincooler, but notcoldconditions.Gradually accustom youngplantstooutsideconditions (known as hardeningoff ).
Once plants arehardenedoff (which
shouldtakearound14days), plantthem out into well-drained soil, between May andJune. Spaceplants20cm apart, allowingroomfor them to grow on Youcan also sowoutdoors, AprilMay, wheretheyare to flower.Sow at adepth of 1.5cm,directly into finely-
Daisy ‘G ol iath Mi xe d’
Acheerful addition to containers or edging, these pretty, double-bloomed flowers arelong-lasting.Theyflower theyear aftersowing, so requirea little patience,but we promise they are worthit!
Sow outdoors
Forthe best results, sowyour seeds indoorsin a tray of good-quality compost. Getyourseedsout of thestarting gates March-May. Sow0.5cm deep,water well andplace in acoldframe,unheated greenhouse, or on awarmkitchen windowsill to aidgermination.
Thin seedlings as required. Water well until plants areestablished. Dependingonyoursowingtimes, these flowers will bloombetween June andOctober
Adding flowers to your plothas many benefits –attracting pollinators ,companion planting,and more!
Keep thecompost moist, andseedlings will usuallyappear in 14-28days.
Transplant theseedlings,whentheyare largeenoughtohandle, to 5cm apart, into othertrays.Alwaysholdbyaleaf, never by thestem, as newleaveswill grow,but if thestembreaks theplant will have to be composted.
Graduallyaccustom youngplantsto outsideconditions, beforeplantingout into well-drained soil, September-October. Spaceat15cm apart.
Alternatively, youcan sowoutdoors, May-June, in aseed bed, 0.5cm deep,into finely-prepared, well-drained soil, which hasalready been watered.
Thin seedlings to 5cm apart,before plantingout into theirfinal flowering positioninautumn.
If youstrugglewithfelinefriends makinga beelinefor your precious crops (hereare GYO HQ we have had problemswithour cats sittinginthe sunnyspotwhere our strawberries grow!) then addingsomecatniptoyour plot is theideal solution –attracting your belovedpets to thisplant andaway
from those you’dlikethemtoleave alone. Leavescan be harvested and dried foruse in cattoys.
Sowseedsunder cover, January-April, 0.5cm deep,inatrayofgood-quality compost. Atemperatureof15-20°C is ideal forgermination.
Keep thesoilmoist.Seedlings usually appear 14-21daysafter sowing.
Once theseedlings arelarge enough to handle,transplantthem5cm apart,in larger traysorpots.
Graduallyhardenthe youngplantsoff (acclimatisethemtooutdoor conditions)this usuallytakes 14 days
Plantout into well-drained soil, MayJune, 30cm apart, makingsurethe risk of late frosts haspassed.
Youcan also direct sowoutdoors, AprilJune, to flower thefollowingyear.Todo this,sow 0.5cm deep,intofinely-prepared seed bed, with well-drained soil.
Thin seedlings to 5cm apart,before plantingout to flowering positionin autumn, spacing30cm apart.
This plantflowers June-September,at whichpoint your furry friends can enjoy areal treat!
Do Ineedtoadd salt to my asparagus bed?
Asparagus growswellenough withoutany salt,but thereissome evidence that adding salt will enhance yields andlongevity of asparagus plants.Assaltisvery cheap it seemsworthwhileto use.Spread70g (2oz) per square
This is also thetimetoadd fertiliser,typically 100g per square metreoforganic basedmaterial suchasfish, blood andbone, to boost fern growth uponwhich next year’s crop depends
CanIgrow pak choi at home?
Pakchoihas becomeone of the most popularvegetables, up there with calabrese andcauliflower in popularity.Happily it is simple to grow at home,especiallyfromJunesowings –earlier sown plants can ‘bolt’ (flower prematurely) rather easily
Choose asunny, fertilespotideally enrichedwithabucketful of rotted manure or garden compostper square metreand some fertiliser.
Sowseeds in cell traysand germinateinawarmplace,thinning to oneplant per cell. Plantout as soon as theroots bind thepotting
compost, into well wateredsoil. Allow 30cm(12ins) between plants and40cm (16ins) between rows.Sowingdirectly in thesoilisalsopossible, laterthinning to thefinal spacing. Avoidtransplanting bare root seedlings as they generallybolt. Coverwithfleecefor theextra warmth andtoexclude cabbage root fly, flea beetles, slugworm larvae and cabbage caterpillars that can spoil this crop
Waterlittleand oftenasthe plants areshallow rooted. Expect to cutheads afterabout 50 days aftertransplanting. Forcontinuityofsupplysow more every threeweeks until September.
