Feature: My Poitou-Charentes Garden - Tips for July from Sheilah Kennedy

Description:

JULY is the month for gardeners to take some time out and sit around looking at all the hard work they have done in the earlier part of the year. Any home made compost that has matured will be on the vegetable and flower beds (if plenty six inches deep dug in during the autumn is wonderful, anything less still wonderful!) slowly feeding the plants.

 

Weeding, unfortunately, still needs to be done; the annuals before they have seed heads can go on the compost heap, and the perennials, either on the bonfire or in the bin. We are digging our early potatoes-any sign of blight (a wind born fungal infection) and you should lift the entire crop before it can spread to the tubers and or tomatoes.

 

Unfortunately earlies cannot be stored for any length of time but a cool dry dark place will help for a few short weeks. Mottled leaves are usually the first sign of blight-which affects the solanum (tomatoes, potatoes) family mostly but can affect others. If the main crop of potatoes look like it might be affected cut off the foliage and earth up the potatoes. This can stop it spreading to the tubers. Spraying with Bordeaux mix is the organic answer to blight but this must be carried out early on in the year or it is worthless. Any leaves or tubers have to be burned as they will carry the infection on if put onto the compost heap. I do not use any form of sprays or powders (even Soil Association recognised organic chemicals leave their residue) and some years we just cross fingers for good luck!

 

This is so much easier for the private gardener; whereas farmers need to grow for their livelihood and without the Soil Association controlling the uses of chemicals we would have no relative safety.   Once the methods that work in your garden and the balance has been established life as a gardener becomes easier!

 

Continue to side shoot your tomatoes. This should leave one main growing stem with the flower trusses and main leaves growing out from this. See photo. The small shoots that appear between stem and leaf should be gently rubbed off. We companion plant where ever possible and if it doesn't work at least the garden looks beautiful!

 

I have masses of self seeding annuals (marigolds, borage, nigella, etc.) now growing in our large poly tunnel (I simply weed out where they might choke a "food" plant) and the wild life population in there is a very healthy balance. The flowers attract all the pollinating insects and keep our trees and bushes (and all the neighbours!) groaning with fruit.

 

The yellow and orange of the wonderful English marigold (calendula-also makes a therapeutic soothing cream-more on that another month) attract the hover fly; a very useful predator in the fight against aphids. Water or soapy water sprayed onto the plants is a cheap and easy controller of aphid.

 

Basil! If you have never made home made pesto now is the time to try; I can assure you, you will never go back to the jars again! I grow masses of basil and found the best (and safest place away from the slugs and snails) is in our little garden room which faces south west but is shaded from the extremes of the sun by the wisteria and vines that cover the pergola outside the room. I sow into three or four, three litre pots at a time and germination usually takes place within two or three days. If you have a glut never fear. Pesto freezes well I believe (mine never gets a chance to last that long!) just exclude the parmesan and add after defrosting.

 

I have decided to grow more squash than courgette (same family!) this year as the skins are tougher and last up until Christmas if stored in a cool dry place. I allow them to scramble without cutting back but pin the runners down with metal hoops in a spiral fashion.  This stops them completely taking over the garden. More next month on the harvest.

 

Please feel free to email any questions (or debate) about any of the points in my article - just complete the form below.

 

Or visit the blog section and leave me a comment.

 

Story by Sheilah Kennedy of Kennedy Paragiste