What to do in the garden in June
One of the longest day of the year falls on June 20th, bringing warmer temperatures and extra sunlight. It's time to harvest in the vegetable garden, flowers are blossoming, and keeping on top of bolting plants is a priority (aka weeds).
- Daily check and water plants, making certain the soil is not dry. Especially newly planted fruit trees and shrubs that are still getting established.
- Keep on top of weeding. Your plants shouldn't have to compete for precious water, light, and nutrients.
- Use blinds or apply shade paint to prevent your greenhouse from overheating. Open vents and doors on warm days.
- Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of flower bulbs and tubers.
- Wait for bulb foliage to die down naturally before cutting back.
- Earth up potato plants as they grown.
- Keep the compost of newly planted container potatoes moist, but take care not to overwater, as this compacts the soil, squeezing out the oxygen, and prevents the developing tubers from swelling.
- Harvest salad crops, and resow every 2 weeks for a constant supply of tasty leaves.
- Keep watch on your onion and garlic. When the leaves start to yellow and die back, they're ready to harvest.
- Start to prune your plum, cherry trees now.
- Top-dress patio dwarf fruit trees with fresh compost and a slow-release fertilizer.
- Always water potted blueberry plants with rainwater, as the lime contained in tap water reduces the acidity of the soil over time.
