The warm summer weather, with its generous sunlight and occasional showers, sets the stage for rich pickings of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. From the charismatic charm of summer bedding plants, to the juicy ripeness of berries and the crunch of homegrown veg, July presents a plethora of options for the discerning UK gardener, and deciding what seeds to plant in July may take some time!
In the UK, July in the garden is about the celebration of life, and the anticipation of harvest. It’s a harmonious blend of delightful weather, resplendent flora, luscious fruits, and wholesome vegetables. Here, we’ll let you know what flowers to plant in the UK in July, some of the jobs you need to take care of and what bulbs to plant in July for a fantastic crop later in the year.
Garden Maintenance in July
Watering vegetables in a raised bed (Credit: Anna Mardo via Getty Images)
British weather can get pretty hot in July, so it’s a good idea to protect your plants from extreme heat. There are a number of shading options available and it’s vital you keep your lawn and beds well watered.
While you’re deciding what to plant in July, don’t forget to stay on top of your weeding – little and often says the experienced gardener – and if you need a helping hand, organic mulch can help to suppress the proliferation of weeds.
Another thing to look out for is pests and diseases. Greenflies and blackflies, known as aphids, can be washed with lukewarm water and a splash of liquid soap. And if you do notice dead or diseased leaves, pick them off and discard them.
What to Plant in July - Vegetables
Carrots on a wooden table (Credit: SimpleImages via Getty Images)
If you want an autumn crop of carrots, July is really your last chance to sow. The same goes for beetroot, French beans and runner beans.
If you’re wondering ‘what can I plant in July’ that’s a little bit different, kohlrabi can be sown now and will be ready in around two months, the same goes for turnips. Pak choi and spinach can also be directly sown and for a burst of colour, Swiss chard can be planted now ready to be harvested in spring.
Even though it’s the height of summer, you can plant out your winter cabbages, cauliflowers, kale and leeks as well as your brussel sprouts, so you have an abundance of delicious home-grown veg for your Christmas table!
Once you know what seeds to plant in July, you’ll soon see there’s an amazing variety of choice and for some super-quick wins, salad leaves grow really quickly at this time of year. You can plant them every couple of weeks for a steady supply through the autumn.
Sowing & Growing Fruit in July
One green sapling raspberry bush on freshly dug ground. (Credit: Tatka_Go via Getty Images)
July is an excellent time to plant strawberry runners or bare-root strawberry plants. They thrive in well-drained soil and require full sun to produce an abundant crop.
Raspberries can also be planted as bare-root canes or potted plants, and you’ll need to give them a year but they should provide a bumper harvest of sweet berries. If you’re wondering what to plant in July aside from the strawberries and raspberries, you can also plant red, black and white currants as bare-root plants, but they prefer a slightly acidic soil and partial shade. Currant bushes are known for their high productivity and offer a range of uses from fresh eating to making jams, jellies, and desserts.
Gooseberries can be planted in July and are perfect for crumbles, jams and pies.
If you want to fill gaps between the summer and the advent of the first frosts, cornflowers, poppies and calendulas can all be planted. If you’re a novice deciding what seeds to plant in July, you can’t go wrong with geraniums. They’re hardy, easy to grow, happy in most types of soil and they look great!
What Flowers to Plant in July
A wet strelitzia (Bird of paradise) flower, covered in beaded droplets of water. (Credit: RapidEye via Getty Images)
You’ll be spoiled for choice with the sheer variety of beautiful blooms so deciding what bulbs to plant in July may take a while!
Delphiniums can be planted in July for a flowering season the following summer – the same goes for foxgloves – and if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Strelitzias, also known as bird of paradise, are stunning in the garden and also make wonderful cut flowers.
If you can’t decide what to plant in July, forget-me-nots and pansies can be relied on for colour and warmth in any garden, and if you’re thinking ahead to autumn, bulbs such as Nerines and Autumn crocus can be planted now.
