Jobs for your allotment in July

dorsetcountrylife
Jul 1
3 min read

Courgette plant flowering and grown courgettes. — Courgette plant with courgettes flowering and forming

July is one of the most rewarding months on the allotment. The summer sun is in full swing, crops are ripening, and there's a tangible sense of abundance. But while harvesting is a major highlight this month, it’s also a time for staying on top of essential tasks to keep your plot productive through the rest of the season and into autumn.

Here’s a guide to key allotment jobs in July.

1. Harvesting Galore

July is peak harvest time. Keep an eye on:

Courgettes – pick them small and often to encourage more fruits.
New potatoes – carefully dig up early varieties once the flowers have died back.
Broad beans, peas, and French beans – pick regularly to prolong cropping.
Salads and leafy greens – cut-and-come-again varieties thrive now.
Soft fruits – raspberries, strawberries, currants, gooseberries, and blueberries are all ripening.

🧺 Tip: Harvest early in the morning for the best flavour and freshness.

2. Watering Wisely

Hot spells can cause soil to dry out quickly. Focus your watering on:

Newly planted crops or seedlings
Container-grown plants
Fruiting plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and courgettes

💧 Tip: Water deeply but less often to encourage deep root growth. Early morning or late evening is best to reduce evaporation.

3. Weeding and Mulching

Weeds thrive in warm, damp conditions and can quickly outcompete your crops.

Hoe regularly between rows on dry days.
Hand-weed carefully around delicate plants.
Apply mulch (compost, straw, or grass clippings) to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

🌿 Tip: Don’t let weeds flower – remove them before they set seed.

4. Feeding Hungry Crops

High-yielding plants like tomatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn, and brassicas need extra nutrition.

Use a liquid feed every week or two, especially one high in potassium (like tomato feed) for fruiting crops.
Add compost or organic matter around plants to boost soil fertility.

5. Sow for Late Summer and Autumn

There’s still time to sow:

Carrots (early varieties for a fast crop)
Beetroot
Lettuce and other salad leaves
Spring onions
Turnips
Pak choi, mustard, and other Asian greens

🌱 Tip: Shade young seedlings or sow in modules to avoid heat stress during germination.

6. Support and Tie In Plants

Train tomatoes, beans, and cucumbers to supports.
Tie in climbing plants and remove side shoots on cordon tomatoes.
Check stakes and string for damage after any summer storms.

7. Pest and Disease Watch

Common problems in July include:

Aphids – check brassicas and beans
Cabbage white butterfly – net brassicas or inspect for eggs/larvae
Powdery mildew – particularly on courgettes and squashes during dry spells

🦋 Tip: Encourage beneficial insects like ladybirds and hoverflies by planting pollinator-friendly flowers nearby.

8. Plan Ahead

July is a great time to:

Start thinking about overwintering crops (like leeks, brassicas, and onions).
Order green manures for autumn soil conditioning.
Save seeds from peas, beans, or lettuce.
Freshly dug new potato's

July is a joyful and busy month on the allotment. With a balance of harvesting, sowing, and maintenance, you’ll keep your plot looking great and producing well into the months ahead. Take time to enjoy the fruits of your labour – perhaps with a cup of tea on your plot bench as the sun sets.

Happy gardening! 🌻