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Business Mayor
13-05-2025
- General
- Business Mayor
These are the fruit and vegetables you should plant in the garden next month
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Hopefully, you're enjoying the fruits of your spring gardening by now. But what about the future? June offers a prime opportunity to prepare for a bountiful autumn harvest. From leafy greens to late-season courgettes, now is the perfect time to sow a mix of fast-growing crops and summer staples. Whether your garden is a compact urban balcony or a sprawling country plot, there's something you can plant now to enjoy later. These are the plants you should be sowing in June (Alamy/PA) By June, the soil is warm and the risk of frost has passed, making it an excellent window to plant tender crops outdoors. 'June is a good time to plant out the last of the tender crops, such as courgettes and squashes, with successional sowing of beetroot, lettuce and radish,' says edibles and nursery team leader at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Joe Lofthouse. 'These are very good to fill any gaps you may have in your vegetable bed.' Quick-turnaround vegetables like radishes and lettuce can mature in as little as four to six weeks. Successional sowing of fast growers like beetroot means you can maintain a steady supply throughout the summer. 'I always do a second sowing of beans in June, planting them directly into the beds and there are a number of other vegetables that can be planted this month, such as celeriac and celery,' says Lofthouse. Longer-term harvests like celery and celeriac benefit from this warmer planting window, although they'll need consistent watering to thrive. And don't forget climbers like runner or French beans, which can still be sown directly into beds or large containers and will yield abundantly by late summer. Good options for beginner gardeners If you're new to gardening, the key is to keep it manageable. Stick to crops that grow quickly and don't require much fuss. 'I would suggest starting small and only growing what you like to eat,' says Lofthouse. 'Buying vegetable plants from a garden centre is a good option to start with as they will have a root system ready to be transferred into your vegetable garden. Root veg such as beetroots, turnips and radish are very easy to grow.' As well as these, herbs are a great low-maintenance option for smaller spaces, as they can often be grown in pots or window boxes. 'Sowing brassicas – cruciferous vegetables – such as broccoli direct into a bed in rows is also a good option,' explains Lofthouse. 'Once they are large enough to handle, dig up and plant into their final position.' Brassicas like broccoli, kale and cauliflower can be started from seed this month too – just keep an eye out for slugs, which love nibbling on young plants. You can also companion plant with marigolds to deter pests organically. The gardening techniques you should be changing Heat and water stress are two major pitfalls for summer planting. 'Avoid planting at the hottest part of the day,' advises Lotfhouse, 'I prefer to plant early morning or in the evening when it is a bit cooler. Read More Trending: Luxury Communities Bordered By Protected Nature Areas 'If sowing directly, I would always water the drills before seed sowing, or water the planting holes before planting, especially for crops like courgettes, squash and cucumbers, which require a lot of water.' Watering the plants and soil thoroughly before and after sowing helps keep the plant nourished, and mulching around young plants can help retain moisture. Getting carried away and planting too many vegetables is a common mistake ((Alamy/PA)) 'I would also recommend growing bolt-resistant varieties, as crops tend to bolt [prematurely go to seed] if under stress by warm, dry conditions,' explains Lofthouse. 'It is best to avoid planting fruit in June as they would require a lot of water.' For leafy greens like spinach or coriander, look for bolt-resistant varieties, which are bred to withstand hot weather without prematurely flowering. And while fruits like strawberries are best planted earlier in the year or in autumn, focus now on crops that will mature before the first frost. The best plants for small spaces If you don't have much space to try out gardening – don't be discouraged. Many crops thrive in pots or window boxes, as long as they receive enough sunlight and consistent watering. 'Most veg and fruit can be grown in containers, although in June onwards they will require a lot of watering,' explains Lofthouse. 'Herbs are good to grow in containers as they require less water. I also like to grow carrots and salad leaves in containers.' Salad leaves, spring onions, dwarf carrots and patio tomatoes are ideal for containers and can be harvested in stages. Read More 'Workspitality' One Pandemic-Era Legacy Likely To Last Herbs like thyme, parsley and chives are particularly suited to pot life and can be snipped as needed, offering fresh flavour at your fingertips. It's best to use multipurpose compost and opt for terracotta or glazed ceramic pots, which help retain moisture better than plastic. Overwintering plants to consider at this stage Lofthouse says it's best to think long-term by planting overwintering crops now. Winter brassicas such as sprouts, winter cabbage and kale need a head start during the warmer months to establish strong roots before temperatures drop. 'June is a good time of the year to plant out winter brassicas,' says Lofthouse. 'I like to sow leeks into a seedbed outdoors and harvest baby leeks throughout the winter.' Sow your brassicas in a seedbed or small nursery area, then transplant once the seedlings are sturdy. Leeks sown now can be harvested young or left to mature until early spring. Try and keep their rows weed-free and mound soil around their bases to encourage long white stems. Mistakes to avoid when planting later in the season There are a couple of common mistakes you should try and avoid when planting later in the season. 'The biggest mistakes are planting and then not watering, or growing a large amount of one vegetable and not being able to eat it all,' says Lofthouse, 'the plants will bolt.' It's easy to get carried away with sowing, but think practically – how much of one vegetable will you really eat? Avoid food waste and plant in small, manageable batches with succession sowing in mind to keep your harvest spread out.
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Lawns will look more lush if gardeners do one simple thing costing nothing
If a grass-loving pest is leaving your back garden looking bare and patchy and other methods have failed you, try one DIY step to remove them for good The sun has been shining and in glorious weather we all want to tend to our lawns. Lawns are one of the magic ingredients that make gardeners proud. They do need some care and attention in return but they reward you for that. But a letter from a reader, Aisling, is a reminder that our lawns can need more than just water and reseeding to keep looking lush and healthy. She wrote to me, "We had a new lawn laid for us last year and a year later it is near gone as leatherjackets have it destroyed. We have use nematodes which are expensive so many times and are not working. What should we do? Our neighbour seems to have the same issue." Leatherjackets are the larvae of craneflies and they damage lawns by eating the roots. Unfortunately they like fresh healthy grass so newly laid turf is susceptible. Nematodes are the recommended biological method for treating them and the soil needs to be moist and warm when you do this. My advice to her - and anyone else experiencing this issue - is to keep trying - apply now and again in late August to early October. You can also try placing black plastic sheeting or sacks on the lawn overnight. Leatherjackets will surface underneath, and you can dispose of them in the morning. Encourage birds to your garden who are their natural predators. If the lawn is really bad, you will need to scarify, aerate and reseed. Jobs for the week Unless frost is forecast, your pots and hanging baskets can go outside permanently if you have been gradually acclimatising them in the last few weeks. If not, start to leave them outside during the day so they can adjust gradually. If you're further south, you can plant tender plants such as cannas and dahlias outside and sow tender annuals outdoors. It's summer bedding time so if you fancy some colour, plant some pelargoniums, begonias, lobelias and antirrhinums into your pots and beds. If you're nervous about frost, keep some horticultural fleece handy for warmth at night. In the veg garden, you can sow seeds directly outdoors that had to be done indoors until now such as pumpkins, courgettes, squash, French beans and sweetcorn. If you haven't planted potatoes yet, get them in this month. Earth up potato plants – draw soil up to stem to create ridges of soil. Aphids will be visible – keep an eye out for them and remove by hand. Keep successional sowing of quick to crops veg such as salad, beetroot and radish. Lightly hoe borders to remove weed seedlings which will dry out on the soil surface. Open vents and doors in glasshouses on warm days to improve air circulation. Overcrowded spring bulbs can be lifted and divided once they start to die down. Hang pheromone traps in apple trees to reduce codling moth damage to your fruit. The Chelsea Flower Show Later this month the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show will burst into bloom once more. This prestigious horticultural event has enchanted gardeners and plant lovers since 1913, pausing only during the two World Wars and the Covid pandemic in 2020. Held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, it draws tens of thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad, all eager to marvel at the cutting-edge garden designs on Main Avenue and admire the dazzling array of plants in the Grand Pavilion. One of the most anticipated highlights of the show is the annual Plant of the Year award. This coveted title is given to the most outstanding new plant introduction, judged on criteria such as originality, garden performance, and potential popularity among UK gardeners. Many past winners have gone on to become household favourites—take Geranium 'Rozanne', for example, with its profusion of vivid blue blooms now a common sight in gardens. This year's competition features a variety of unusual and interesting contenders. Among them is Philadelphus 'Petite Perfume Pink', the first truly pink-flowered mock orange. Developed by legendary plant breeder Alan Postill, this compact shrub produces rich pink buds that open into highly fragrant flowers. With no pruning required, it's a perfect choice for gardens of all sizes. Postill's name may already be familiar to you – he also introduced the ever-popular Daphne bholua 'Jacqueline Postill', named after his wife. Another standout is Clematis 'Elpis', a striking new variety from renowned clematis breeder Raymond Evison. With deep ruby-red blooms set against lush green foliage, this climber flowers from May to July and again in early autumn. Named after the Greek goddess of hope, 'Elpis' supports male cancer research and brings both beauty and meaning to the garden. Meanwhile, fuchsia 'Mambo' is part of the Patio Dancer series bred by Tim Kerley of Cambridge-based Kerley & Co. With its elegant, layered pink-and-white flowers, this compact variety is perfect for containers and hanging baskets. Salvias, always a garden favourite, are well represented this year. 'Tropicolor Sunrise' offers fiery red petals and copper-toned sepals, with copper undersided leaves for extra interest. Hailing from Argentina, it promises a bold, tropical look. In contrast, Salvia 'Peach Melba' presents a softer palette with large, two-toned peach and pink flowers. Its compact, bushy habit and six-month flowering period make it an excellent choice for smaller spaces. Last year's winner, Prunus 'Starlight', impressed with its delicate, star-shaped white blossoms. Its breeder, Ken Tobutt, returns this year with Prunus 'Crystal Falls', a graceful, winter-flowering weeping cherry. With double white blooms from mid-December, its arching branches suit small gardens and even container growing — an ideal choice for adding charm in the colder months. Ken Tobutt is well known as the creator of many new shrubs and trees, including the Ballerina Series of apple varieties. Such a diverse and impressive selection of new plants on display reflects the creativity of some of the world 's most skilled breeders. Whether you're an avid collector or a casual gardener, Chelsea remains an essential showcase for the future stars of our gardens. Plant of the week - Aquilegia caerulea Often known as columbines or granny's bonnets, aquilegias have delicate foliage and intricate flowers. This hardy perennial is suitable for positions in sun or semi shade and works well in cottage gardens, rock gardens and containers. There are lots of varieties but this one is a stand-out beauty with its larger than usual flowers in a beautiful combination of pale blue and white.
