Gardener's Calendar: What to Do in the Garden July 6–12
July is a season of intensive care for gardens and vegetable plots. Gardeners are busy with successive plantings, an ever-growing harvest of vegetables and berries, and the ongoing tasks of watering, protecting plants from the heat, and guarding against pests and disease.
Informator Kolomyia has put together a gardener's calendar for the week ahead.
July 6
A favourable day for most garden work. This is a good time for successive sowings of greens and other fast-growing crops, as well as for planting anything that still has time to yield a harvest before the season ends.
July 7
Better to hold off on sowing and planting today. Watering and feeding are also best avoided. Instead, focus on weeding, loosening the soil between rows, shaping bushes, pinching out tomato side shoots, and tying up tall-growing crops. It's also worth inspecting plants and treating them for disease or pests if needed.
July 8
A good time to mulch your beds. A layer of mulch helps retain moisture for longer, protects roots from overheating, and keeps weeds in check. Check any mulch already in place and top it up if necessary — this will help maintain favourable growing conditions even during hot spells.
July 9
Another favourable stretch for garden work. Successive sowings of crops that still have time to mature are recommended. The day is also well suited to watering, loosening the soil, weeding, and clearing away plant debris, which can otherwise become a breeding ground for disease.
July 10
Keep sowing greens and other crops in beds that have been freed up after harvesting. This is also a good time to mow the lawn, trim back excess shoots, gather medicinal herbs, top up the compost, and feed plants if needed.
July 11
A day better suited to harvesting than to new sowings. Pick vegetables, berries and fruit promptly to avoid overripening. Early potatoes can also be dug up if they're ready — ideally on a dry, sunny day.
July 12
Pay special attention to protecting plants from disease and pests. In midsummer, heat combined with fluctuating humidity significantly raises the risk of fungal infections. Inspect trees, shrubs and vegetable crops, and remove any damaged leaves or unwanted new growth.
