Summer might be in full swing, but there’s still time to plant a final round of vegetables. July marks the last opportunity to sow certain fast-growing crops if you want to enjoy a harvest before the first frost.
“The long, warm days with good light levels speed up the germination process, helping you to extend your season of cropping in the vegetable patch,” reported an expert at Gardeners’ World. A few vegetables can be grown in your garden between 30 and 70 days. Here are the foods you should plant this month for a successful end-of-season harvest.
1. Beetroot
“Beetroot and carrot can be sown continually up until the end of August,” says a garden expert on Country Living. They are seemingly easy to grow; the red vegetable needs soil with good drainage and six hours of direct sunlight.
The vegetable will produce multiple crops per seed, so it will need to be thinned out. It is vital to keep the crops well hydrated; gardeners are urged to sprinkle seeds with water every two weeks. During dry spells, increase this frequency to every week.
Beetroot matures in as little as 40 days but typically takes between 50 and 60 days. The roots can be harvested once they reach the size of a golf ball or a cricket ball.
2. Carrots
July is often regarded as the last chance to sow carrots for an autumn harvest. According to green experts at the Gardeners World, “Sow direct and thinly into shallow drills of well-prepared soil or in pots of soil-based compost.
“Try to avoid thinning seedlings to prevent carrot fly.” Growing carrots is simple when you prepare the soil properly, protect against carrot root fly, and select the right variety for your space and needs.
Fresh carrots can be harvested roughly 10 to 16 weeks after sowing; however, depending on the variety, they can take up to three months to mature. ‘Little Finger’ (small nantes) carrots are the quickest to mature as they don’t need deep soil to grow.
3. Radishes
Radishes are the quickest vegetables to grow, maturing in as little as 28 days. To grow radishes, select a sunny, open location for planting.
The RHS reported that deep soil is essential for long-rooted winter and oriental radish varieties, some of which can grow over 30 cm (1 ft) long. These veggies need to be watered regularly to keep the soil moist, but will not need thinning out if you sow salad radishes at least 2.5cm (1in) apart, and larger winter and oriental radishes at least 15cm (5in) apart.
The expert at Gardener’s World concluded: “Quick to mature, easy to grow and almost pest-free, radishes provide a peppery burst to salads. They can also be grown as companion plants to other crops.”