Weekend gardener: pretty bloomers
Ornamentals
Take cuttings of rock roses (cistus) by choosing a strong side shoot off a non-flowering stem, up to 10cm long. Remove the lower leaves and insert the shoot into a pot filled with a mix of soil, river sand and leaf mould. Place in plastic bag and keep moist.
Keep an eye out for clematis wilt, a fungal disease that can kill the plant. Signs include wilting leaves with blackening stalks, and/or blackening stems. Cut back all stems to healthy tissue and destroy the affected matter. New, healthy shoots will often sprout up from the base. Clematis likes its roots in the shade and vines in the sun – planting with this in mind will help combat wilt.
To lessen the likelihood of black spot, give roses a dressing of potash.
Remember that, in very hot dry weather, container-grown plants may need watering twice a day. Early morning and evenings (when plants are out of direct sun) are good times.
Edibles
Plant broccoli, cabbages and cauliflowers in rich soil – where potatoes have been growing would work well.
A generous dose of lime to the soil will help prevent club root, and as these vegetables’ ancestors were seaside dwellers, a sprinkling of sea salt is considered beneficial. Or even some seaweed draped alongside. Or make some compost tea by soaking seaweed in water (and the likes of nettles, horse manure, comfrey) and watering it on the plants regularly.
When planting seedlings in these hotter months, water in well and ensure they never dry out until they are well established.
Keep an eye on courgettes – ohso quickly they turn into the way less-desirable marrows.
Keep tying up tomatoes as they grow, and be vigilant about removing all laterals. As the fruit matures and starts to ripen, remove the lower leaves. Traditional Italian tomato growers continue removing leaves right up to the first frosts, often ending up with a vine which is almost bereft of them.
Lift garlic, onions and shallots as the leaves turn yellow. Only do this on a dry day, shake off as much dirt as possible – do not wash or remove the outer skins. Trim the fibrous roots back to the bulb. leave to dry. Some gardeners like to leave to dry in the sun; others in a dry, airy spot out of it. Unless you are planning to plait them together, trim the leaves to about 12cm long.
Any pipfruit or plum trees planted last season may need a light prune to keep shape, removing overly strong shoots.