GARDENING
Gardening
reminders for
June/July
Californian poppies
especially when seedlings are
emerging. Thin out. Set beer
traps to keep the slugs away.
summer, and comes in pale
orangey-yellows and brilliant
white.
then paint herbicide glysophate
with a small paintbrush on the
leaves.
Hardy annuals to try
Centaurea cyanus
Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium)
The cheery hot-coloured flowers
of this trailing plant will give
a quick and easy display. For
smaller borders look out for
compact and dwarf types.
The buds can be pickled as a
substitute for capers, and the
flowers are edible, making a
great addition to summer salads.
For lovers of blue flowers, try
the dwarf cornflower. There are
many cultivated forms too with
more showy double flowers,
coming in other colours such as
black and pink.
Missed the spring blitz
in the veg garden? Don’t
worry there’s still plenty
you can sow and plant
now.
Eschscholzia californica
(Californian poppy)
Poppy-like flowers in shades
of rose pink, fiery orange, and
lemon yellow. These annuals
look good in a seaside or gravel
garden.
Clarkia elegans (clarkia)
Produces branched plants that
bear deeply cut, lilac-purple
flowers. Sow en masse for a
dramatic display.
Dimorphotheca
aurantiaca
Formerly known as annual
Osteospermum, this pretty
daisy-like plant will easily
perk up the borders in late
life
Where to find them:
Thompson and Morgan seed
packets at good garden centres
www.chilternseeds.co.uk
Hey good looking
Keep the garden looking
good at this time of year by
regular deadheading, feeding
and watering. Grouping pots
together makes for easier
watering and gives more
impact. If you’re going away
on holiday, consider investing
in a timed watering system
for your containers – there
are some reasonably priced,
easy-to-assemble models widely
available, such as Hozelock’s
Aqua Pod. Edging the lawn
and staking unruly perennials
instantly perks up the garden. To
get rid of pernicious bindweed,
allow it to grow up a cane, and
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• French and runner beans can
be sown in June for a later crop.
• Carrots can be sown until the
end of July; by sowing either
now, you’ll avoid root fly too.
• Purchased plants of leeks and
most brassicas can be planted
out.
• Sow beetroot until early July
for tender beets through autumn.
• Towards the end of June, sow
for autumn salads (mizuna,
rocket, endives and chicories).
• Clear algae, blanket weed and
debris from ponds, and keep
them topped up.
• Regularly water peppers and
tomatoes to avoid blossom end
rot developing on the fruits
later. Pick courgettes before they
become marrows.
• Inspect your lilies for the lily
beetle – although this shiny red
insect may be easy on the eye,
it’s hungry larvae won’t be so
easy on your plants. Squish by
hand.
• Mulch the borders with organic
matter to keep the soil moist and
the weeds down (apply when
soil is wet and weed-free).
• If you have an infestation of
fungus gnats (they look like
fruit flies) in houseplants,
reduce watering immediately.
Top-dress the pots and water
from the bottom.
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