HILLINGDON ALLOTMENT AND HORTICULTURAL FEDERATION

JOB’S TO DO
July Action Plan
� During this hot and humid month, you turn your back and a dozen new weeds have appeared.
� Many grasses and weedy flowers shed their seeds at this time of year so it is even more important
to stop them in their tracks or you will end up with more in the long term.
� Dig weeds out or, for tougher visitors, carefully paint on a systemic weed killer to prevent
damaging the soil or neighboring plants.
� Bindweed can be grown up canes and treated safely away from beds and vegetables.
� Keep all salad crops well watered in hot weather.
� Be on the lookout for potato blight (see right), as July/August are the months that it thrives in.
To find out if you are likely to suffer blight on your potato crop, sign up for
blight watch alerts from the British potato council. Are you missing out on
key information that may help you improve blight control decisions?
By signing up for this free service you can receive email and text message
alerts for Smith Periods and confirmed outbreaks for up to 10 postcode
districts. To register for Fight Against Blight and Blightwatch alerts go to
www.potato.org.uk/fab_blightwatch. See also BPC blight maps at www.potato.org.uk/blight
� The amount of seeds for sowing this month to crop this year is starting to drop off, amongst the
more popular vegetables are: Broad Beans, Dwarf Beans, Mung Beans, Beetroot, Spring
Cabbage, Carrots (for continuation).
� Sow seed for next year‘s crops: Cauliflowers, Chicory, Coriander (Cilantro), Endive, Kohl Rabi,
Lettuce for continuation and winter lettuce, Pak Choi, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Turnips.
� Harvest early Bush and Runner Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery,
Coriander, Cucumber, Endive, Kale, Lettuce, Spring Onions, Bulb Onions, Peppers, Rhubarb,
Rocket, Spinach, Strawberry, Swiss Chard, Tomato.
� July is the month that the fruit garden comes into its own, plants laden with ripening fruit and many
a tasty berry being harvested.
� July may have heavy rain showers – but don‘t rely on these to water your fruit garden.
� Thinning fruit trees is the best way to obtain larger and better quality fruit. When thinning, remove
any damaged or poor quality fruit and then remove the remaining fruit so there is at least 5 cm
between each fruit.
� Remove any excessive growth on fruit trees.
� Espalier and dwarf trees will need training and protection from predators.
� In dry weather water fruit trees and apply mulch around the roots.
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