The summer months have finally begun. Time to enjoy a well-deserved holiday, recharge your batteries, and be amazed by everything that is now growing and blooming in the garden. The tomatoes are growing faster than you can tie them up, the harvest in the vegetable garden is in full swing, and dahlias are starting to bloom in the cutting garden and borders. Get your harvest baskets ready.
Heat plan for the garden
During the summer months, we sometimes face heatwaves. Warm temperatures, little to no rain, and blazing sun are tough for the growth of flowers and crops in the cutting and vegetable garden. So make sure you have a heat plan for the garden. Consider collecting rainwater in a rain barrel; you can use it during dry periods. The timing of watering is also important in the garden. If you water during the hottest part of the day, a lot of precious water will evaporate and be wasted. So water early in the morning or late in the evening, so every drop is well used and the plant has time to absorb the water.
Garden tasks for the month of July
Give enough water in the garden. With the warm temperatures, the soil can dry out very quickly. Add mulch to the soil to help keep the water in the ground a bit longer.
Has the lavender finished blooming? Prune it back now, and it will bloom again soon. Just be careful: don't cut into the woody part of the plant, as it won't grow back from there.
Has the water level in the pond dropped a lot due to the heat? Then top it up in time and remove any duckweed growth.
Keep removing spent flowers from annual cut flowers to encourage the plant to keep blooming.
Do you have tomatoes in the greenhouse or garden? Tap the climbing support, stake, or string of the plant now and then. This helps with pollination, rewarding you with more tomatoes.
Harvest the first zucchinis when they are small. About 15 centimeters is perfect, as they haven't formed seeds yet. Did one escape your attention in the garden? Then make soup from it—a delicious treat for the coming winter.
Sowing biennials
Many people think you can only sow flowers in the garden in spring. Nothing could be further from the truth; the summer months are perfect for sowing biennials. Biennials do not bloom in the first year, but first develop a strong root system and leaves so they can flower in the second year. After that, the plant dies and you can harvest seeds if you like. This starts the cycle again. Some flowers that are biennial:
- Foxglove or Digitalis
- Honesty or Lunaria
- Teasel or Dipsacus
- Columbine or Aquilegia
If you start sowing now, the plants will have enough time and sunlight during the summer months to grow into strong plants. During the cold and wetter winter months, let them continue to grow in a sheltered spot. Each type has its own characteristics to consider when sowing: is it a light or dark germinator? How deep should the seed be planted in the soil? Be sure to check the instructions on the package before you start sowing in the garden.
Pinching out and tying up tomatoes
The tomatoes in the garden or greenhouse are really having a growth spurt now. Thanks to the warm temperatures and especially the longer days, the plants are shooting up. A tomato is naturally a strong grower, which can quickly make things look chaotic. Make sure the plant can grow upright in the garden or greenhouse by regularly tying it to a sturdy bamboo stick, string, or tomato spiral. This prevents the plant from snapping under the weight of the fruit. Also check all the plants weekly for side shoots or suckers. By removing these in time with your fingers or pruning shears, you keep the plant airy. This helps the plant dry faster and ensures enough air circulation, so fungi have less chance. Finally, remove the lowest leaves from the tomato plant. This way, the tomatoes get more sunlight, ripen faster, and you can harvest them sooner.
Learn more thanks to our videos
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In this video, Angelo teaches you everything about pinching out and shaking tomatoes in the garden. You’ll also learn how to pick leaves.
The vegetable garden during the month of July
In the vegetable garden, July is all about harvesting. Zucchinis, the first tomatoes, peas, and strawberries are ripe and ready to pick. Do you have onions and garlic in the garden? These crops can also be harvested once the foliage has turned yellow. Keep an eye on your tomatoes for the first signs of phytophthora or tomato blight: this way you can act quickly if needed. Besides harvesting, you can definitely start sowing again in the vegetable garden. This way, you prepare for autumn and winter crops. Some crops that can be sown now in the vegetable garden:
- Bush beans: a delicious crop that grows quickly.
- Lettuce varieties: a perfect filler in the vegetable garden beds.
- Brassicas such as kohlrabi.
