Monthly Garden Advice for June
Tender Plants
can now be set out in their final positions as the risk of frost diminishes. Plants should be hardened off carefully before setting out. Hanging baskets are best sited with shelter from wind and out of hot midday sun. Some subjects will thrive in partial shade such as Fuchsia, Begonia and Impatiens. Houseplants will also benefit from moving outdoors such as Hippeastrum (Amaryllis), Christmas cacti, Azalea and Cymbidium orchids but remember they will still need careful watering and feeding and some shade for the latter two subjects.
Fantastic Summer Displays
from your hanging baskets and containers will only be achieved with careful siting, watering and feeding. Regular watering quickly leaches nutrients from the compost and it is important to replenish these with regular weekly feeds of Magi-grow soluble feed or Phostrogen once the plants are coming into flower. Slow release feed granules can also be pushed into the compost around the plants.
Regular Sowings
every 3-4 weeks of vegetables and herbs will ensure continuity of supply of tasty, tender produce e.g. Beetroot, Peas, Carrots, Salad leaves, Spinach and French Beans as well as herbs such as Basil, Coriander and Rocket. All these can be grown into growbags, vegetable bags, tubs and troughs if space limited
Enjoy the Barbecue
with added flavour by having pots of herbs close by Basil, Fennel, Thyme, Rosemary, Sage and Mint will enjoy a sunny position to produce their aromatic oils but Parsley, Rocket ,Coriander and Sorrel may produce more tender leaves from a shadier location.
Quick tips
- Straw under strawberries to keep fruit.
- Sow wallflowers for autumn planting.
- Treat containers with Provado if vine weevil is suspected.
- There is still time to prune part or all of clumps of herbaceous perennials, back to 10-15cm to reduce height and extend flowering. Try on Phlox, Sedum spectabilis, Campanula, Achillea and Asters.
