[GPI]

Gardening tips for mid July.
by GPI

Well, we are half way through July now and I have to say that despite the weather there are a lot of gardens here on the western quarter of Ireland looking really well. Lush foliage and bountiful blooms are wonderful, however, it is the amount of new home vegetable gardens cropping up, which warms my heart the most. To help keep this flower and fruit express moving forwards, here’s some tasks that require your attention for the rest of the month.

Containers.
Just because the climate gods have seen fit to drop their fair share of rain on us, don’t neglect to water all planted tubs, window boxes and hanging baskets, especially those which sit beneath eves and porches. The contained roots of these plants will not have the benefit of water trickling in from all sides, as they would if planted in open ground, instead they live and die based on the amount of water dropped onto their limited soil surface. You will be repaid with loads of flowers and foliage if if before watering you also dilute some liquid feed in your watering can, ensuring that your container plants are both fed and watered in one go.

The vegetable garden.
During dry spells in the vegetable garden you should take the opportunity to hoe off weeds, dry weather is the key, because if done in wet weather, the weeds are liable to re-root. Not got a hoe, well a sharpened spade angled towards the ground will tide you over. The sharp spade was good enough for my grandfather in his veg garden when times were harder, so today with all the chatter of “recession” its worth having one of these multipurpose tools instead of buying two or three separate implements instead.

. Rewards of the July veg garden, globe artichokes, photo / picture / image.

If you’ve sown a veg garden you will be reaping the rewards about now by harvesting spinach, peas, beets, carrots, salads, globe artichokes; even early potatoes and shallots may be ready. If you’re grinding your teeth reading this at the fact that you missed out on sowing any of these earlier in the season, put those gripes away now as you can still sow loads during the month of July. How about spring cabbage (harvesting in spring), carrots, turnips, chicory, fennel, and autumn/winter salads such as lamb’s lettuce, rocket or Winter purslane.

Lawns.
Lawns may be growing well, spurred on by the more than adequate rain we received, but the grass may look a little off colour due to spring fertilisers being washed away. So as a pick me up, give the lawn a quick-acting summer fertiliser about now, select a feed containing weed killer granules as well to ensure the grass thickens and smothers weeds. Keep lawn mowing regularly, every five days if you can, except when the grass is wet or the ground is sodden.

Houseplants.
If you have plants growing in a conservatory or sunroom don’t forget to ventilate them daily by opening a window or two. You may not venture into the conservatory during the day, but your poor plants will have to put up with its hothouse-like conditions each time the sun is out. If you are heading away on holidays, it’s worth getting a neighbour or friend to come over occasionally to vent the conservatory and check all the plants in the house for their watering needs. Houseplants are growing freely at this time of year and should not be allowed to dry out; watering in late evening will also avoid the risk of leaf scorch on hot days.

Any queries or comments on Gardening tips for mid July, please post below.
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Remember, a weed is just a plant in the wrong place.

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