Under the hot shade of July

Sweltering in record high temperatures, it can feel as though the best time for sowing has already passed. However, I’ve found that summer is still full of opportunities to add more colour, attract pollinators, and fill empty spaces in the garden.  I’m looking at what I can sow now to keep the garden productive through the rest of summer and into the colder months. Warm soil can be a real advantage in July, and with careful watering and a little protection from the strongest sun, there are still plenty of seeds worth planting.

With another heatwave predicted this July, I’ve been thinking carefully about what seeds I can still sow in my garden. It can be tempting to stop planting when temperatures climb, but July is actually a surprisingly productive month for growing. The warm soil helps seeds germinate quickly, and with a little extra care, I can keep harvesting fresh crops well into late summer and beyond.

Keeping Cool While I Sow

I’ve learned that gardening during a heatwave is all about timing. I avoid sowing in the middle of a hot afternoon and prefer to work early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature has dropped.

Before sowing, I always give the soil a good soak. Seeds need consistent moisture to germinate, and the summer sun can dry out the surface surprisingly quickly. A thin layer of compost or mulch also helps keep the soil cooler and prevents it from drying out too fast.

The secret to successful July sowing is choosing varieties that enjoy warmth and then giving seeds the care they need while they are getting established. Warm soil can actually help many seeds germinate quickly, but moisture is essential during those first few weeks.

Fresh Salad Leaves for Late Summer Harvests

One of the first things I reach for in July is my salad seed collection. There is nothing better than being able to pick fresh leaves straight from the garden in the cool of the morning before temperatures soar.

I’m sowing rocket, mixed salad leaves, mizuna, and heat-tolerant lettuce varieties such as butterhead, batavia or lollo rossa types. These crops are quick to grow and can give me fresh harvests in just a few weeks. During hot weather, I choose varieties that are more resistant to bolting and grow them where they receive some shade during the hottest part of the day. A little protection helps keep leaves tender and prevents them from becoming bitter.

I’ve found that sowing smaller amounts regularly works better than planting everything at once. It keeps the supply going and means I’m not suddenly faced with more salad than I can eat.

Quick Summer Crops

Radishes are perfect for filling small gaps in the garden and are ready much sooner than many other vegetables. Sow little and often rather than planting a large batch at once, in short rows every couple of weeks. Spring onions regularly sown direct, either spaced or ’pinch’ sown in a clump will extend the harvest until the first frost.

Keeping the soil consistently moist is important because dry conditions can lead to small, woody roots.  

Autumn and Winter Harvests

Vegetable gardening always involves a little bit of forward thinking. Although it feels like the height of summer, July is also the month when I start thinking about the colder seasons ahead.

Carrots do best in loose, well-prepared soil, so take time to remove stones and break up any compacted areas before sowing. Beetroot is a little more forgiving and can be grown in many spaces, including containers. Baby turnips too. I have grown all these in large containers. With regular watering, these crops should establish well and provide delicious autumn harvests.

I’m sowing crops such as kale, (or cauliflower, chard, winter cabbages, purple sprouting broccoli, and some varieties of leeks) so they have time to establish before autumn. Starting these crops in pots or modules gives me more control during hot spells and makes it easier to protect young plants, moving the trays into more shady areas.

If you have space, July is the month to buy your select seed potatoes for growing your Christmas new potatoes. Growing in containers or grow bags (at least 10–15 litres) is ideal because you need to easily move them indoors as the weather turns.

Hardy Annuals for a Future Flower Display

July is also a good time to think ahead to spring. Some hardy annual flowers can be sown now to overwinter and produce earlier blooms next year. Flowers such as cornflowers, nigella (love-in-a-mist), poppies, and calendula can be started in late summer, giving them time to establish before winter.

Herbs for Summer Flavour

I always find space for herbs, and July is ideal to sow more. Basil, chervil, coriander, dill, oregano and parsley can all be started now.

Basil especially enjoys warm weather and grows quickly in summer. I sow coriander in smaller batches because it tends to flower quickly in heat, allowing me to have a more continuous supply of fresh leaves.

Sun lovers

This month, I’m choosing hardy, sun-loving flowers that can cope with hot conditions and continue flowering into late summer and early autumn. July sowings can still reward me with plenty of flowers before the end of the season.

I often sow calendula in gaps where another crop has finished. Calendula, also known as pot marigold, is easy to grow, and surprisingly resilient. Nasturtiums are another summer favourite of mine. Their trailing leaves and bright flowers quickly fill gaps in borders, containers, and raised beds. They cope well with poorer soils and are happy in sunny positions. Not only are these both beautiful, but useful too. Their flowers are edible and attract pollinators.

Other plants attracting beneficial insects are marigolds.  These cheerful, golden blooms love sunshine and are incredibly reliable during warm weather. Once established, marigolds are fairly low maintenance and provide months of colour. Sweet alyssum (lobularia maritima) is another small but valuable addition to the garden. Its tiny flowers create a carpet of colour and produce a lovely honey scent. I like growing it around paths, containers, and vegetable beds because it attracts hoverflies and other helpful insects.

If you’re wanting a more natural, cottage-garden feel, try sowing cornflowers for their delicate blue, pink, and purple shades. They are also excellent for bees and other pollinating insects. A July sowing can provide late summer flowers and may even produce seeds for next year’s garden.

My Top Tips for Gardening Through a July Heatwave

My biggest lesson from gardening in hot weather is that plants need consistency. I focus on watering deeply every few days rather than little and often, protecting young seedlings from the fiercest sun and predators, and checking containers regularly because they dry out much faster than plants in the ground.

I also try to work with the weather rather than against it. A little shade, a layer of mulch, and choosing the right seeds can all contribute. Moving containers into partial shade during the hottest hours and grouping them together for watering has made a huge difference.

A July heatwave doesn’t mean the garden has to stop producing. By choosing the right seeds and giving plants a little extra attention, I can continue growing fresh food and flowers throughout summer while preparing for the seasons ahead.

I drifted into a summer-nap
under the hot shade of July
serenaded by a cicada lullaby
to drowsy-warm dreams
of distant thunder...
~Terri Guillemets, "Summer-nap," 2011