W hether you are a keen gardener with a plot full of fruit and veg, or completely new to growing there’s lots you can still be doing. There are lots of fruit and vegetables you can be harvesting right now as we reach one of the most produc- tive times of the Summer, but July is also the time to get a few more crops sown if you have the space. Salad leaves sown now will give you pickings through Autumn and Winter and can be grown in pots as well as in the ground. A few sowings of french beans in early July can give you a crop in September and into Oc - tober if we don’t get frosts. Per - petual Spinach can be sown now for winter leaves and Chard, Oriental Mustard and Pak Choi for Autumn picking. 44 45 The Solstice has now passed but although the days will now be getting shorter, we are still enjoying long summer evenings and can make the most of time in our gardens. After all that fantastic warm, wet weather in June your plants will probably be looking very green and lush - perfect growing conditions! July/August in the vegetable garden And finally July/August in the flower garden THINGS TO SOW THINGS TO HARVEST THINGS TO DO New to gardening ? D Salad leaves D Spring cabbage D Mustard leaves D Turnips D Radish D Pak choi D Chicory D Fennel D Onions D Garlic D Beans D Courgettes D Cucumbers D Tomatoes D Potatoes D Sweetcorn D Keep weeding D Remove veg plants that have bolted D Water plants if dry D Feed container grown plants & baskets D Sit and watch the wildlife Stressed plants are easy targets for pests and disease. Keeping your plants well watered and fed really helps to promote healthy growth. Slugs thrive on weaker, sappier growth so make sure the plants that you plant out are at their best before you put them in the ground. Vigorous healthy growth means there are more leaves to survive if some succumb to cater- pillars or birds. In dry weather, many of our plants are vulnerable to pow- dery mildew and by keeping them at their best they stand a better chance. Cae Rhug Holistic Farm is a local Social Enterprise bringing wellbeing through nature, horticulture and permaculture. (More details, see ad on page 29) News&Views 234 | July-August 2020 GARDENER’S DIARY Remember! Rachel and Simon Farr from Cae Rhug Holistic Farm guide us gently through the seasons in our gardens with tips for attracting wildlife, growing food and making the most of the flowers in your gardens..... Then why not jump in feet first! Well actually 1 square foot to be precise! Aim for just 30cms square or 1ft square to begin and follow the simple guidance for square foot gardening on-line. It’s a great way to get started without feeling daunted and a brilliant a way to get growing with children. Be water-wise! A sprinkling of water each day really doesn’t do that much. The moisture evaporates quickly in especially in hot weather, and water tends not to go deep very down into the soil. Watering more but less often is more efficient and a mulch of grass clippings over wet soil in dry weather locks the moisture in for longer! T he sudden rush of colour in June has often started to peak by July, but keep dead-heading your plants to keep the flowers coming as long as possible. Especially important on those hanging baskets and pots. All plants have just one intention - to go to seed and by removing the flower heads as soon as they have bloomed the plant loses it’s chance of seeding and so sends up more flowers. With perennial flowers such as geraniums, lupins and del- phiniums cutting the flowering stems and leaves right back can bring about new healthy growth and new flowering stems that add colour to our gardens in late Summer and help feed pollina - ting insects. A Wilde Garden in Maeshafn.