Whether you missed the early spring sowing season or you’re keen to boost your produce later on in the year, it’s not too late to start growing now. Gardening is all about the timing, commitment, and a splash of luck; take a look at some garden favourites that you can start growing now.
Carrots
It’s not too late to start growing carrots, which you can sow direct into soil until early July. Opt for fast-growing varieties such as Early Nantes or Amsterdam Forcing, planting in light, stone-free soil with plenty of space. Thin seedlings as you go to avoid overcrowding.
Spring onions
The salad superhero, spring onions are easy to grow and a great addition to your garden kitchen. You can sow these until late July; choose a reliable variety such as White Lisbon and harvest as you go. These don’t need a huge amount of space, so even if you have a very small garden or a window box, they’re a good option.
Kale
This hardy green can be sown until mid-July and enjoyed throughout the autumn and winter. Highly nutritional, this is a superfood that is robust enough to survive the cooler autumn and winter weather. An established crop can even withstand light frosts.
Pak Choi and Asian Greens
Taking the starring role in stir fries and Asian cooking, pak choi, Chinese cabbage, and tatsoi grow quickly and aren’t affected by the shorter days, so can be sown until mid-August without impacting crop yield or quality.
French beans
These adore warmer weather and, once established, they tend to grow very quickly. It’s not too late to sow direct in the garden: sowing in June or July will still result in a good crop before the weather gets too cold and wet. If you’re limited on space, try a bush variety of bean, but if space isn’t a problem, climbers will probably give a better crop yield.
Radishes
Incredibly fast to grow, making them very satisfying to grow as well as to eat! You can sow these little balls of goodness until September, and they’ll keep your salad plate bright and fresh until early autumn. If you’re short on space, radishes are fantastic as you can sow them between other crops. Sow a few seeds a week for a steady supply.
Top tips for veg garden success
If you’re struggling to keep on top of your gardening, consider employing a gardener to help you to get your outside space under control so you can start from a strong position. Once you’ve got your garden cleared and your crops sown, remember to:
- Water regularly, preferably in the evening during hot weather.
- Provide shelter from sun and wind for more delicate plants to prevent leaf scorch or broken stalks.
- Control pests! Check your plants for slugs, snails and aphids regularly.
- Keep sowing – sowing little and often will give you a steady stream of crops instead of one bumper crop.
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