June - the time of perfect young summer

Hurrah, summer has arrived along with the swifts. As the soil dries out and warms up, we can start thinking about sowing direct into the soil and planting out our carefully nurtured tender varieties. 

Keeping a watch on those night-time temperatures, start putting your tender seedlings out during the day - aubergines, courgettes, sweetcorn, squash and tomatoes. if the forecast is for cooler nights bring them in or cover with fleece or newspaper - like tucking them in for the night in a snuggly blanket.  Once they are conditioned to the cooler temperature then they can be planted out to withstand the rigors of the British summer on their own!

Sow fast growing crops such as radishes and salad leaves in between slower growing plants such as brassicas.  

Carrots, spring onions, beetroot, lettuce, spinach, leaf beet and chard, basil, rocket and pea shoots are good sown direct.. Kale and swede, sprouting broccoli to overwinter for spring crop, ditto cauliflower. Nasturtiums, zinnias, limnanthes (poached egg plant), coreopsis, night scented stock, alstromeria and myosotis (forget me not) if sown now will give you flowers this season.  

TIP: Don't forget to give your plants a hug! They too need feeding and watering, and some need that extra support. Tomatoes will topple otherwise, peas and beans will fail to reach the height of success.