Colchester Avenue Allotment Association

Month by Month Tips - July

An exciting month in the garden with so much happening. The garden should look at its most
colourful and lush in July, packed full of flowers, vegetables, and fruit.
SOFT FRUIT
There’s still lots to harvest, including late strawberries and gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants and blueberries. Some early blackberries could be ready too
SUPPORT
Over-laden branches such as those on fruit bushes may need support with string and canes to prevent them breaking under the strain.
PRUNING
Soft fruit bushes will benefit from having their new growth pruned back to five leaves to allow more sunlight into the canopy and help the fruit ripen.
TOP FRUIT
Peaches, apricots, cherries and early varieties of plums, apples, and pears should now be ready for picking.
WATERING
Stay on top of the watering and look out for any flagging plants. Those in containers or greenhouses may need watering at least once a day.
GREENHOUSE
If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse, remember to open doors and vents to prevent it overheating during midday
POTATOES
Second earlies should be ready for digging up now. Remember to keep earthing up maincrop potatoes around the bases of their stems.
SOWING
Continue to sow carrots radishes, and lettuces every few weeks to ensure regular crops to harvest over the next few weeks
RASPBERRIES
Cut back the fruiting canes of summer raspberries. Tie in the new canes that will provide the fruit the following year.