Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer.
We never know quite what the weather will be like in July, so when the sun shines, take every opportunity to get out and enjoy your garden. Most plants are in full bloom now, and there’s plenty to do to keep things looking good, whether it’s watering plants in dry spells, deadheading faded flowers or keeping on top of the weeding. And don’t forget to take some time to simply sit and appreciate all the results of your hard work!
You’ll really start to reap the rewards of your gardening efforts in July with so many vegetables and fruit to harvest. There’s still lots to do and plant in July, so choose your favourite category below and read our top gardening tips for the month.
Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer.
Nothing beats home-grown peas for their tenderness and taste.
Runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow.
Grow your own salad and you can pick exactly how much you want and need.
Sweetcorn, or maize, is sweet, tender and delicious – especially when cooked as soon as it is picked. Plenty of sun and...
Spring onions are a delicious addition to a whole range of dishes, from summer salads to stir-fries.
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots.
Nothing beats the taste of your own home-grown tomatoes, freshly-picked and warm from the summer sun.
Garlic is the base of so many delicious dishes, and growing garlic at home is now very popular.
French beans are a versatile vegetable, producing attractive, long, thin pods, and creamy haricot beans.
‘Cavolo Nero’ is a variety of kale, closely related to broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.
Salad rocket, like its name, is a fast-growing salad leaf, perfect for adding a peppery spiciness to your salads.
Chard, or Swiss Chard, is a delicious and beautiful plant which will bring harvests to the kitchen and colour to the...
Sorrel is a great substitute for spinach, with a similar texture but a sharper citrus flavour.
Sugar snap peas are a deliciously sweet, fun and quick-cropping vegetable to grow.
If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of ‘Fragaria × ananassa’ are easy to grow at home.
What could be better than a bowl of sweet, freshly-picked raspberries in summer?
Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries are always delicious.
Avocados are a favourite fruit used in kitchens around the world - why not try planting the stone to grow your own?
With their exotic and enormous foliage, banana plants add a taste of the tropics to the garden.
Butternut squash are a late season favourite, with attractive fruits which will keep well throughout the autumn and...
Everyone loves mangoes, but did you know that you can grow a mango tree from a seed?
Fig trees (Ficus carica) are Mediterranean natives that thrive in climates with hot, dry summers and cool winters...
Cultivated in herb gardens for centuries, Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow from seed and it makes a delicious...
Coriander is a must in salads and as a fragrant green addition to Indian, Thai and Chinese curries.
Borage, or starflower, is an easy-to-grow herb with edible flowers and leaves.
There are over 900 distinct species of Salvia, providing a huge range of smells and vivacious colours.
Bearing bold flowers in orange, red and yellow, Heleniums are a bright and cheerful addition to the garden border.
The Viola is an adaptable low growing bedding plant coming in both classic and trailing varieties.
Anemones are a cheerful and vibrant group of plants, providing interest from early spring onwards.
Plants in the Sedum genus are easy to grow, produce lots of nectar for pollinators, and provide lovely autumn colour.
Calathea do have a reputation of being tricky to grow, but these challenges are well worth mastering
Hostas are usually grown for their beautiful leaves, with the attractive foliage coming in various shades of green, blue...
The vegetable garden is in full swing in July, and there’s plenty to do, with winter vegetable seedlings to plant out, successional crops like salad leaves to sow, and delicious vegetables to harvest for the dinner table. Keep up with the weeding, watering and feeding to give your vegetables everything they need to ripen, and be on the lookout for any signs of pests and diseases.
Sow outdoors directly into well-prepared soil, in beds, borders or containers.
Plant out seedlings into vegetable beds:
There are plenty of vegetables to harvest this month, giving you a chance to enjoy the taste of your own home-grown, fresh-picked produce. These vegetables should all be ready to harvest in July:
There’s an abundance of fruit to harvest in July, especially soft fruit like currants, summer-fruiting raspberries, gooseberries and the last of the strawberries. Use them fresh in delicious puddings and tarts, or freeze them to keep you well stocked with fruit for the winter. These fruits should all be ready to harvest in July:
Lawns get a lot of wear in summer when we’re all out in our gardens enjoying the sunshine. The main task for this month is to keep your lawn looking tidy by mowing regularly, trimming the edges and giving it a feed if necessary.
In very hot, dry summers, lawns can start to look a little brown, but don’t rush to water yours straightaway if this happens. Grass is tough and will generally bounce back once it gets some rain, so be water-wise and wait a while.
Herb gardens really come into their own in summer, bursting with growth all ready for harvesting and using in the kitchen. Sow these herbs in July for a constant supply of fresh leaves:
Sow outdoors in pots or in well-prepared soil:
Many herbs benefit from regular harvesting and will simply put on more growth, ready to be used. All herbs can be harvested in July, including:
Perennials, annuals and summer-flowering bulbs are all in full bloom in July, so take some time to sit and enjoy the results of all your hard work in the garden. There are still flowers to sow and bulbs to plant though, to make sure your garden keeps on looking great throughout the year.
Sow these seeds in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill now for flowers next spring and summer:
Plant autumn bulbs now in well-drained soil or in pots, planting them at a depth of around 2 times the length of the bulb. Water them after planting. These autumn-flowering bulbs are ready for planting in July:
Cut back faded perennials once they’ve finished flowering to keep the garden looking tidy. They will put on fresh growth and often a second flush of flowers in late summer. Perennials to cut back in July include: