What to do in June

Now that the risk of frost has passed many gardeners are pleased that the growing season can finally get under way. Don’t be too hasty storing away the frost protection just yet though as here in the UK it is not uncommon to get a freak frost as late as June!

 My biggest problem this time of the year is space.  I never seem to have enough space to accommodate all of the plants that require transplanting either into the ground or into bigger pots.  I know that I am mostly to blame as I do tend to sow more seeds than I can handle.  I start off with good intentions, limiting myself to a certain number of plants and varieties, but I get so carried away sowing seeds that I always end up with way too many plants.  Lucky for me though I have access to 4 greenhouses that will be filled with chillies, peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Here’s hoping for a bumper harvest!

Jobs to do………in June

• Keep the hoe busy to get on top of the weeds.  Hoeing on a sunny day makes it easy as the weeds will die in the heat of the sun.
• Continue to save water where you can.  The warmer weather will mean that plants will require more water.
• Continue to earth up potatoes.
• Peg down the runners of strawberries and add a layer of straw underneath so that the soft fruit is not in direct contact with the soil.
• Keep soft fruit covered to prevent them being eaten by the birds.
• Pinch out side shoots on indeterminate tomatoes.
• Tomatoes, peppers and cucumber will benefit from regular feeding now.  Choose a liquid feed that is high in potassium or harvest comfrey leaves to make into a liquid fertiliser.
• Check the plant supports for taller plants such as peas and beans.  Encourage the plants around to grow around the supports.
• Continue to thin seedlings to allow room for crops to grow successfully.
• Keep a close eye on brassica plants for the first sign of caterpillars and aphids. Check the underside of the leaves for the butterfly eggs and deal with them at the first sign.
• Water tomatoes regularly to prevent blossom end rot but avoid splashing water onto the leaves.  This will encourage blight spores.
• Sow catch crops such as radish or gem lettuce between slow-growing brassicas.
• Add shading to greenhouse to prevent plants scorching.
• Continue to pick salad crops to encourage more leaves.

What to sow………Indoors

• Lettuce
• Peas
• Celery
• Onions and shallot seeds
• Kohl Rabi
• Kale
• Cucumbers
• Brussels Sprouts
• Winter salads
• Summer, Autumn and Winter Cabbages
• Summer and Autumn Cauliflowers
• Calabrese
• Maincrop peas
• French beans
• Runner beans
• Sweetcorn
• Leeks
• Spinach
• Radish
• Courgettes
• Summer squash
• Marrows
• Pumpkins
• Winter squash

What to sow………Outdoors (Under Protection)

• Beetroot
• Broad Beans
• Calabrese
• Carrots
• Chinese Cabbage
• Courgettes
• Cucumbers
• French Beans
• Kale
• Kohl Rabi
• Lettuce
• Marrows
• Pak Choi
• Peas
• Pumpkins
• Radish
• Rocket
• Runner Beans
• Spring Onion
• Squashes
• Sweet corn
• Swede
• Turnips

What to plant………in June

• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbages
• Cauliflowers
• Celery
• Courgettes
• Summer squashes
• Cucumbers (Outdoor)
• French Beans
• Kohl rabi
• Leeks
• Lettuces
• Marrows
• Peas
• Pumpkins and Winter squashes
• Runner Beans
• Sprouting broccoli
• Sweetcorn
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes

Crops in season now

• Asparagus
• Spring onions
• Lettuces
• Chard
• Radish
• Kale
• Rhubarb
• Spinach

Happy sowin’

Debb

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