Growing Tips for Early Summer

So much for “Flaming June”, we have just experienced Flaming May! The question is will the mini heat wave continue? By the time you are reading this we will know. Watering in May both horticulturally and agriculturally is normally not required, however there was little choice. June is the month for planting out those “tender” plants, e.g. Courgette & Pumpkins.

Despite the dry weather Strawberries look incredibly good this year. I hope this is an indicator of a bumper crop. We need to ensure the fruit has maximum exposure to the sunshine. Carry on seed planting, all seeds, of course, salad crops, Lettuce, Mixed leaves, Radish, etc. We should now be in a ”Frost free” situation so seed grown in pots in the greenhouse can be taken outside e.g. Runner Beans/French Beans it may be that they have to be taken out during the day and back in the greenhouse at night in order to “harden them off before they are planted in their permanent site. They actually are quite robust.

Peas, childhood memories, of popping those pods, and the taste! Nothing like it, that taste! Fresh from the plant!! .Planting of rows in succession can provide regular cropping until the Autumn if you choose your varieties carefully, just check on the packet, or search for the information on Google. Sweet corn fans can plant out the young plants, they are hardy I assume you have the Runner Bean poles already erected ready for the plants, if you haven’t already completed the planting, now’s the time! Two plants per pole works well if you have a surplus. Had you considered planting Lettuce plants between the Beans?

All Marrow, Courgette, Squash plants should now be in situ, preferably on raised heaps of soil/compost/manure. be Remember You can plant out Outdoor tomatoes at the end of the month and into July, the greenhouse ones will be growing strongly , don’t forget to pinch out the side shoots, hand pollinating the flowers with a little paint brush will help improve the yield. Making a “buzzing” noise when you do this is optional!! Don’t forget to feed them with an appropriate liquid fertiliser or mix your own recipe, they are hungry plants, Potatoes of course will now be growing well; you can continue to earth up as much as possible, at the same time having an exciting and careful exploration into the roots of the Early crops using hands or a trowel, as there will almost certainly be small salad potatoes ready! Especially if you have grown Charlotte, Yippee!, the season has started already!

Continue planting, keep hoeing, and weeding, remember Soft Fruit bushes need water, then, in between times, give yourself a well earned rest, get those garden chairs out, clean off the BBQ, still time to enjoy Asparagus. Pick those juicy Strawberries, add the cream or yoghurt, raise a glass of your favourite tipple, savour those long days/evenings, get ready for Summer!! Will it be a scorcher? Who knows?, whatever, please use water sparingly.