The Vegetable Plot – June

The plot develops

With the vegetables filling out the area there’s usually less weeding to do but keep an eye on patches with onions and leeks where weeds can get a hold, especially in wet weather. Watering is important when the weather gets hot so give the vegetables a good soaking with a fine spray every few days, starting with seedlings and plants in containers, on to tomatoes, lettuce and celery if you’re short on time. The big guns such as sprouts and cabbages will be more tolerant and need less water.

Continue earthing up potatoes and planting out winter greens, the Brussels sprouts, broccoli, Savoy cabbage and kale. Sow more lettuce, endive, radishes, turnips and mustard and cress. Feed and ventilate tomatoes in the greenhouse and continue to feed vegetables in full growth with a fertiliser or weak liquid manure.

• Sow chicory for forcing
• Harvest broad beans and asparagus
• Lift autumn sown onions as you need them
• Lift potatoes as you need them 
• Pick peas when the pods mature
• Make last sowings of French Beans and quick maturing peas 
• Sow carrots, beetroot, turnip, swede and Chinese cabbage
• Plant out tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, sweet corn after the frosts