July - The Height of Summer

• The recent wet and warm weather in June has been good for plants and weeds alike - keep weeding or hoeing on dry days

• Extend the flower-show in your garden by regular deadheading; especially for the summer favourite, sweet peas

• Continue to feed annual and perennials fornightly with a high potash/potassium (K) liquid fertiliser such as Tomorite

• That high potash feed should also be used weekly on tomatoes and cucumbers growing in pots or growbags

• The lower leaves of tomato plants can be removed to allow more light to reach the ripening trusses

• Keep pots, containers, and hanging baskets well watered and try not to let compost in these containers dry out completely as it will become very difficult to re-wet

• Sow seeds of biennials such as wallflowers (Erysimum), foxgloves (Digitalis) and sweet rocket (Herperis), and perennials such as primulas, pansies and violas

• Succession sowings of lettuce, carrots, beetroot and radishes should also continue in the vegetable garden

• Garlic should be ready to harvest towards the end of the month as the leaves start to go brown and drop