July

In July there are still seeds you can sow. Turnip and Florence fennel for example but much of this month is about harvesting and using your crops.

Broad beans will be coming to an end but the first French and then runners will be ready. Red and blackcurrants will need some bird protection as they become ripe. Second early potatoes take 100 days from planting so these should be ready now while maincrop need around 110 days. Shallots, garlic and onions will be getting ready for lifting. Choose a dry day and lay them out in the sun. Take in at night and out on subsequent sunny days until they have dried off enough for storing. Green manure empty ground after harvesting. Pick greenhouse grown tomatoes, cucumbers and aubergines.

Once strawberries have finished cropping clear up the bed. Cut off old leaves and unwanted runners and compost straw if used. Prune Gooseberries after harvest.