A Flourishing July:
Your Gardening To-Do List for Abundant Growth

Flowers to Sow and Cultivate

In the greenhouse/indoors

July is the optimal time to sow spring-flowering perennial seeds for the following year. Fill trays with high-quality compost and try growing aquilegia x hybrida 'McKana Giants Mixed,' bellis, and delphinium hybridum 'Magic Fountains Mixed.'

Sow summer-flowering perennials such as scabious 'House's Novelty Mixed,' echinacea 'Green Twister,' and hardy geranium 'Reflections.'

Prepare for winter containers by sowing viola hybrida 'Rose Shades' in the greenhouse.

For flowers that bridge the gap between spring and summer, grow biennials like forget-me-not, foxglove 'Alba,' sweet William, and fragrant wallflowers for next year's blooms.

Direct Sow Outdoors

Sprinkle forget-me-not (Myosotis syvatica) seeds outdoors from May to September, mimicking the natural process after their spring flowering. This is ideal for areas with dappled shade.

Plant Outdoors

Fill any gaps in your beds and borders with garden-ready scented annuals for fragrant displays throughout summer. Plant foliage bedding to add texture and colour, filling any gaps in your garden.

Vegetables and Herbs to Sow and Cultivate
In the Greenhouse/Indoors

Sow pickling cucumbers indoors by early July to transplant them outside later. Pick the fruits when small, and expect to start harvesting in late summer.

Direct Sow Outdoors

Sow basil 'Classico' in pots to keep on your patio now and bring indoors for the winter. Make your last direct sowing of beetroot now for an autumn harvest.
There is still time to direct sow fast-maturing carrots like 'Nantes Frubund,' 'Adelaide,' and 'Amsterdam Forcing.' Sow fast-growing herbs such as coriander, dill, and parsley directly into the ground or containers. Direct sow corn salad into drills for crops throughout autumn and winter. Direct sow endive for a tasty autumn crop.

Sow French beans and runner beans if space allows. This will extend your cropping season into the autumn. Direct sow or start them off in small pots. Expect to start harvesting in late August.

For something more unusual, try direct sowing kohlrabi now for a crop in approximately 8 weeks.

Continue to direct sow lettuce 'All The Year Round' seeds every three weeks for a continuous supply. July is the perfect time to start your first direct sown crops of pak choi as they are prone to bolting if grown before midsummer.
Make your last sowing of peas outdoors now so that they develop before the frosts. Direct sow perpetual spinach for autumn and winter cropping.
Add color to stir-fries with raddichio. Seeds can be sown directly into the soil now.
Make small direct sowings of radishes every few weeks to ensure a constant supply. Be sure to water frequently in hot weather and expect to start harvesting within a month.

Direct sow salad leaves regularly throughout the summer. Pick the leaves when small and remove any spent plants. Expect to start harvesting in three weeks.
Sow spring cabbages such as 'Durham Early' now in a well-prepared seedbed for transplanting later. Continue to sow spring onions in drills outdoors for a quick crop to add to salads and stir-fries.

Add some colour to your plot by direct sowing Swiss chard 'Bright Lights.' This will over-winter and provide a bumper crop in the spring. Direct sow turnips 1cm deep. Thin seedlings to 15cm apart and keep moist. Expect to start harvesting in 60 days.

Plant Outdoors

Plant out sprouting broccoli, spacing the plants 60cm (2ft) apart. Calabrese plants can be spaced closer together at 30cm (1ft) apart. Plant out winter cabbages, allowing about 45cm between plants as they grow quite big.

Plant out winter vegetables such as hardy cauliflowers, kale, and leeks now. Plant out Brussels sprouts early this month.

Stay Ahead: What to Order this Month

Order poppy and Californian poppy seeds for August sowing.
Order ground cover annuals like candytuft for autumn planting and overwintering.
Order patio shrubs such as hydrangeas, exorchorda, and lilacs for planting in autumn and overwintering. Browse the RHS Perfect for Pollinators Bedding collection for inspiration in creating your own wildlife meadow next spring/summer. Buy parsley, coriander, and chervil seeds to sow next month and grow under glass for the winter.


Make sure you have enough salad leaf seeds to last you through the rest of summer and autumn!