Taking a break to dream and keeping things sharp.
The Winter Solstice has come and gone. It’s time for quiet celebration as the days can only get longer from here on out. Before the inevitable rush of late-winter seed sowing and garden preparation, however, July provides us with a little bit of time to take on slower jobs.
Tool maintenance
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as working on garden tools on a rainy winter’s day. Cleaning rusty blades, sharpening shovels and secateurs, and oiling wooden handles are all useful projects that not only keep your garden tools looking shiny but extend their lifespan as well.
Moving plants
Rainy days are also great for evacuation projects. If you have a young tree or shrub struggling in the wrong spot, winter is the perfect time to move it to a better location. Dig your planting holes ahead of time. Water your plants well before moving them, give them a wide berth of at least 50cm when digging, and replant them straight away. After planting, water them thoroughly and apply a plant tonic — such as Seasol or Seamungus — to help the roots bounce back and reduce transplant shock.
Expanding your seed library
Once you’re done, dry off and make a hot water bottle, curl up with a cup of tea and scour seed and plant catalogues for yummy fruit and vegetables you’d like to give a go. Draw out a plan for crop rotation and make a list of seeds you need to replenish. When choosing seeds to buy, remember to take stock of last year’s veggie garden, what was eaten or wasted, best-performing crops, and think of problems you faced and how you can combat them this coming season.
Next month is a good time to start summer seeds such as tomatoes, chillies and eggplants on heat mats, so make sure you get your seed orders in July before they disappear. August will also be a good time to start flowering ornamentals such as scabiosa, cosmos and strawflowers from seed. Flowers may seem superfluous now but come spring when your seedlings are struggling against aphid infestation, ornamental flowers will encourage beneficial insects such as hoverflies and ladybirds, whose larvae feast on aphids.
Visit us to explore our range of seeds from Southern Harvest and Mr Fothergills.
What to plant now
Sow direct: Broad beans.
