BEVERLEY- With high summer now established, gardens across East Yorkshire are at their most productive. But with next week’s forecast suggesting a mix of heavy rain and bright sunshine, gardeners should prepare for fluctuating conditions.
This is a key moment to support crops, maintain order, and look ahead to autumn. The following 10-point checklist outlines essential tasks for the final weeks of July.
10 Jobs for Late July
- Support heavy fruit crops
Branches on apple trees, currants and stone fruits may need staking to prevent snapping under the weight. - Sow for late summer and autumn
Now is the time to sow carrots, spring cabbage, fennel, turnips and winter lettuces. Use fine netting to guard against carrot fly. - Prune trained and soft fruit
Summer prune gooseberries, red and white currants. Cherry trees and kiwi should be pruned now, once harvesting is complete. - Pinch and train vegetables
Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes and top outdoor tomato plants after four fruit trusses. Pinch out climbing beans when they reach the top of their supports. - Water and feed regularly
Despite the forecast for rain, container plants and crops such as tomatoes and beans will still need regular watering and feeding, particularly after sunny spells. - Check supports before storms
Ensure climbing crops such as beans and cucumbers are securely tied in ahead of expected downpours and wind. - Watch for pests and diseases
Be alert for signs of aphids, blight on potatoes and tomatoes, plum rust, and woolly aphid. Remove affected parts and dispose of carefully. - Earth up celery
Earth around celery plants to blanch the stems. Add collars to prevent soil entering the centre of the plant. - Deadhead regularly
Remove spent flowers from bedding plants and perennials to encourage further flowering into August. - Train and tidy fruit trees
Continue tying in new growth on fan-trained fruit trees. Remove suckers from rootstocks of grafted fruit trees.
Weather Considerations
The coming days are likely to bring unsettled weather, with some areas experiencing heavy showers and brief sunny intervals. Avoid sowing seeds just before rain, and keep beds well mulched to regulate moisture and suppress weeds.
July’s final weeks are about control and preparation. Regular inspection and timely action now will support healthy crops and flowering through to autumn. With changeable weather expected, flexibility and routine observation are key.
For more information on what to do in your garden this month, visit rhs.org.uk.
Main image: RHS/Clive Nichols