Garden in summer: what to do in the vegetable garden in July? What to plant, fertilize, water, harvest?

Would you like to use your garden space more efficiently? Are you wondering what to plant in the garden in July? There are also some growing opportunities in summer.NowHowever, we need to pay more attention to irrigation needs compared to spring conditions. There are also a number of ripe vegetables that should be harvested at this time. What is there to do in the vegetable garden in July? We'll go into that below!

Our gardens have given us a lot back after months of care. We harvested lettuce, spinach, peas and onions. The first potatoes have been dug up and we have just harvested the garlic and hung it up to dry. Now we are faced with some bare patches and the first frost is at least three months away. We need to do a 'second planting', which is known as succession farming. When one culture ends, we begin another culture. But what can we plant in this heat in midsummer? Actually there are a whole bunch of options! The ground has already warmed over the summer, as have the day and night air temperatures.

This may mean that we have to sow the seeds about twice deeper to prevent them from drying out. This also means that our seeds are likely to germinate faster if they are kept moist. Keep in mind that most seeds will not germinate in soil temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius. We may need to shade an area or plant behind a trellis to find a cool area. Using straw mulch is another way to protect the soil from direct sunlight. The plants now have less time to grow, so we have to look for plants that mature faster. After you have already taken care of the first harvest, the soil needs to be enriched with compost or leaf mold.

  • Bush beans, runner beans and lima beans sow in July. These plants like the heat and are a good choice. The beans can be easily frozen or canned for the winter. You can try sowing different varieties every 7-10 days this month for a continuous harvest throughout late summer and fall.
  • Corn can also be a good choice.When planting corn now, you need to look for an early maturing variety that will mature in 70-80 days. Although corn loves warmth, it also needs evenly moist soil.
  • Vegetable garden in July: planting cucumbers and pumpkins.You need to have space to grow the vines. For many of these plants, you can also look for shrub varieties, although some believe that shrub varieties don't taste quite as good. Try one and see for yourself.
  • Let's not forget the herbs.Basil, cilantro and dill are three good choices. If your first basil planting has wilted, a stem will easily root in water and can be planted out in July.
  • Now sow parsley in a protected place.This means you will have a supply of fresh parsley during the winter months. Sow the seeds 15 mm deep. Don't despair if nothing seems to be happening - parsley germinates slowly and it can take six weeks for seedlings to appear. When cold weather comes, protect the seedlings with cloches.
  • Plants from the cabbage family (Brassica).Cabbage, broccoli, brassicas - and alsoother vegetablessuch as chard, escarole and radicchio can be planted in the next few weeks for a big harvest in late autumn. Most vegetables in the Brassica family can tolerate light frost and even taste better when sown later in the season.

What needs fertilizer and watering in the summer heat

Tomatoes, whether outdoors or in containers, now need to be fed with a tomato fertilizerbe fertilized. A consistent water supply is also crucial, especially for tomatoes grown in containers. An uneven water supply leads to burst fruit, so you should put this at the top of your watering list. Tall tomato varieties should be supported and the small side shoots where the petiole joins the main stem should be cut out. Once the plant has produced six flower clusters, cut off the main stem tip two or three leaves above the top flower cluster. If the plant were allowed to continue to grow, more inflorescences would be formed, but it would have no chance of ripening or even falling out before the onset of the cold season. Tomatoes grown in a greenhouse need the same attention, but be sure to provide adequate ventilation and shading, as well as plenty of water and liquid fertilizer.

In the heat of summer, watering is the real trick to getting good cucumbers. We recommend watering once daily in the morning if temperatures are above 32 degrees Celsius, or every other day if temperatures are below 32 degrees Celsius.

All legumes (beans) require a constant supply of water in hot and dry weather, which can be supplemented with mulching. Also water the lettuce plants well if the weather requires it, otherwise lettuce, radishes and spinach may sprout (go to seed).

What can you harvest from the vegetable garden in July

  • Young beetroot, turnips, tender carrots and kohlrabi.They should be ready to harvest. Only pick as many as you need so that the vegetables really taste fresh from the garden. Towards the end of the month you may already be able to do the first ones
  • Runner beans and some broad beans harvest.So that theFlowers successfully fertilizedTo be able to grow, the weather must be warm, which in turn stimulates the insects that pollinate the flowers. Cut the shoot tips of runner beans once they reach the top of their supports.
  • Let the shallots dry in the sun.As soon as the shallot leaves turn yellow, carefully lift them out and let them dry in the sun. When they are completely dry, rub them to remove any remaining soil particles or loose outer skin. Save some of the best small bulbs to plant next spring and store the rest in a cool, airy place until ready to use.
  • Garlic and onions that you planted in the fall.In July they should also be ripe and should receive the same treatment.
  • Digging up winter celery can begin in July.Fill the trenches with a 10 cm layer of soil, first covering the young plants with protective paper covers so that the soil does not penetrate into the hearts. Continue piling at two-week intervals.
  • Artichokes should now be ready to harvest.The best time to cut is when the leaf scales open, but if you leave them too long they will turn into inedible but attractive flowers. If you harvest the artichokes at the ends of the main stems first, smaller but still edible artichokes will form further down the stem.
  • Harvest your beloved herbs.Keep harvestingherbs in Julysuch as mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme, savory, basil, parsley, coriander, chervil, fennel and bay leaf. You can dry the herbs or freeze them, depending on your needs.