Organic Gardening Magazine

Ornamentals

Take the time to have a really good look at the garden at the height of its growth. Think about what may need moving or dividing later in the year. If there is anything that has outgrown its space, consider suitable replacements.

Try cutting back perennials such as lupins and hardy geraniums after flowering by about one third. This will prevent them from sprawling, and you may get the added bonus of a second flush of flowers towards the end of the season.

We may well have heavy rainstorms this month, so stake any plants that have grown tall before the rains come to prevent them collapsing.

Dead head flowers to prevent seed formation and promote further flowering. This is especially valuable for anything growing in hanging baskets or pots, to prolong the season. Do the same for roses.

Collect flowers for drying. There are many that make delightful displays through the winter, reminding you of the glories of summers past and future. Grasses dry especially well, such as quaking grass (Briza media) and the fluffy hare’s tail (Lagarus stellata). Seed heads of poppy, honesty and teasel are also worth collecting.

• More on this in the magazine

The vegetable garden

Early crops will be ready to harvest. Keep picking broad beans regularly to avoid them becoming tough. It is very easy to save your own seed from broad beans, but you need to allow the beans to mature and dry on the plant. To do this, mark a few plants with string or tape and allow these to mature without picking any from those particular plants.

There aren’t many things more delicious than the first harvest of new potatoes fresh from the garden. Dig them as you need them, preferably within a few hours of eating, and cook them with plenty of fresh mint for a wonderful taste of summer.

Garlic will be ready to harvest towards the end of the month. Lift the plants when four of the lower leaves have started to turn yellow. Handle the bulbs carefully and hang up to dry in a warm, airy place in order to store for use throughout the winter.

Over-wintering onions will also be ready to harvest. These don’t store as well as spring-sown onions that are ready to harvest later, so use them as you need them.

Now is the time to think ahead to autumn and winter in the vegetable garden. Transplant winter brassicas, such as kale, purple-sprouting broccoli and spring cabbage. If the temperatures are high, a good time to transplant young vegetables is in the evening as it becomes cooler. Plant into a slight hollow to allow water to gather around the roots. Continue to water for a couple of days to allow the plants to settle in. After that, avoid watering if you can, to encourage the roots to penetrate down into the soil in search of moisture.

Use any spare space for winter greens such as: chard, chicory, endive, giant red mustard, lamb’s lettuce (corn salad), land cress, mizuna or winter purslane.

• More on this in the magazine

Wildlife garden

Keep topping up the pond if the weather is dry. Let the water trickle through a boggy edge if there is one. This allows the water to warm up before it reaches the pond, and reduces turbulence.

Remove blanket weed that may accumulate by dragging it to the pond edge. Let it lie there for about a day to allow any pond dwelling creatures to return to the water, then add the residue to the compost heap.

Keep a watchful eye on which plants are good at attracting butterflies. If you want to increase their presence, plan to include more in the garden next year. Remember to provide flowers for night-flying moths as well, who appreciate scented plants such as honeysuckle, evening primrose, night-scented stock and nicotiana.

• More on this in the magazine

Strawberries

Strawberries will be ready to harvest. For best flavour, leave the fruit to ripen on the plants for as long as possible, and pick just before you want to eat them. After harvesting, the plants will benefit from cutting back to promote a good harvest the following year. Remove older leaves with shears, leaving the younger growth plenty of light and space to develop. Weed as necessary to avoid competition, and give the soil a good soaking if the weather is dry.

• Much more in the magazine

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