Garden year: To Do’s in July

TO DO in July

In July the garden season is in full swing. This month we are rewarded by nature with abundance in the garden and on the balcony. However, the beautiful time of summer also demands our commitment, because July does not make it easy for the gardener. The hot days with intense sunshine and long rain-free periods are a heavy burden for many vegetables. Regular and sufficient watering is essential. In addition, the autumn vegetables are now sown.

Sowing in July

• Make sure not to wet the leaves with water, otherwise the drop of water works like a magnifying glass and burns the leaves.
• Tub plants that are in the blazing sun may even need to be watered in the morning and evening so that they do not suffer from extreme heat. Simply check the potting soil with a finger in the afternoon and water in the evening if it is dry.
• Rainwater is ideal for watering the garden. Water from the rain barrel is warmer than tap water and therefore more suitable. When watering with cold water, the soil and plant are cooled down suddenly – a cold shock can occur, which inhibits growth.
• The lawn mower is on break today! Apart from the fact that it is too strenuous in the heat: short cut lawns turn yellow even faster in the heat. Longer grass, on the other hand, shades the ground and thus prevent it from drying out too quickly.

In July, it is indeed time to think about sowing in autumn. Autumn salads and vegetables can now be sown to ensure that you are supplied with vegetables even in the cooler season. But be careful when sowing in July. The high temperatures can quickly minimize success. Once dried out in the germination phase, you wait in vain for the small plants to appear. Therefore always check if water is needed!

Sowing salads: Asian salads, lettuce, chicory salad, iceberg lettuce and rocket can still be sown.

Tips against shooting: Due to the summer heat many head and picking salads form premature inflorescences. That’s why you should choose as cool a place as possible for summer sowing of lettuce to prevent this so-called shooting. It is best to sow in the evening and water the seedbed with cold water.

Napa cabbage: The Asian leafy cabbage needs a lot of heat. Ideal germination temperature: over 22 °C! Since it needs warm growing temperatures, it is not sown until midsummer. At temperatures below 18 degrees, one must expect premature flowering.

Sowing beans: Bush beans can be sown until mid-July. Important: water the shallow-rooted plants regularly starting with the first blossom, otherwise they will yield little. Note: Avoid flower beds where beans or peas were planted in the past year!

Sowing parsley: Parsley sprouts rather hesitantly in cool weather. Therefore, sowing in July is best! Sow the parsley with a distance of 10-20 cm between rows in a half-shaded place. Important: always keep moist!

Herbs: Also for basil, dill, chervil, borage and chives.

Harvest in July

Especially now, when everything is growing and thriving at a rapid pace, one should not wait too long before harvesting. Zucchini and cucumbers taste best when they are no larger than 15 cm.

Cauliflower: To keep cauliflower white, the flower should be protected from intense sunlight. Simply fold the outer leaves and bend them over the flower.

Cucumbers & Zucchinis: Regular harvesting increases the harvest. Therefore harvest the cucumbers and zucchinis every 3 days.

Harvest herbs: Most herbs are harvested before flowering, as they have the highest seasoning power in this stadium. However, this is different with oregano and thyme. Here you wait until they have blossomed their light purple umbels. Only then do the leaves unfold their full aroma and retain it even when dried. It is best to harvest on a sunny morning, after the night dew has dried up.

Proper watering in summer

Especially longer periods without rain are a heavy burden for many plants. Here are a few tips for proper watering on hot days:

• On particularly hot days, the plants should be watered in the morning (by 10 a.m. at the latest).
• The morning is to be preferred to the evening, since otherwise humidity attracts the snails too much and it can also lead to fungal diseases.
• It is better to water the beds extensively every few days rather than a little every day. If the bedding plants receive water every day, they will become “rotten” and will not develop deep roots.
• Always water near the roots to minimize loss through evaporation!
• Mulching helps prevent evaporation.

• Make sure not to wet the leaves with water, otherwise the drop of water works like a magnifying glass and burns the leaves.
• Tub plants that are in the blazing sun may even need to be watered in the morning and evening so that they do not suffer from extreme heat. Simply check the potting soil with a finger in the afternoon and water in the evening if it is dry.
• Rainwater is ideal for watering the garden. Water from the rain barrel is warmer than tap water and therefore more suitable. When watering with cold water, the soil and plant are cooled down suddenly – a cold shock can occur, which inhibits growth.
• The lawn mower has a break today! Apart from the fact that it is too strenuous in the heat: short cut lawns yellow even faster in the heat. Longer grass, on the other hand, shades the ground and thus prevent it from drying out too quickly.

Good luck in your July Garden!