Summer gardening advice
Is the heatwave over yet?
How to keep your garden happy through this week’s heat and prepare for the first cooler days.
That is the question many gardeners across Europe are asking this week.
Temperatures are beginning to ease in some areas, but the heat has not disappeared everywhere just yet. Some gardens are still dealing with intense sunshine, very dry soil and unusually warm nights.
Because conditions vary so much from one region to another, it is better to follow your local forecast than to follow the calendar exactly.
The most important thing to remember: your seeds will not mind staying in their packets for a few more days. Waiting for a cooler window can give them a much better start.
How to keep your garden happy during the heat
1. Water deeply, but less often
Water established plants thoroughly at their roots, preferably early in the morning. A deep watering is usually more useful than repeatedly wetting only the surface of the soil.
Pots, hanging baskets and seed trays are different. They can dry out very quickly, so check them every day.
2. Give young plants some shade
Seedlings and newly planted flowers and vegetables are especially vulnerable to strong afternoon sun.
Move trays and pots into bright shade where possible, or provide temporary protection during the hottest part of the day.
3. Do not feel rushed to sow
If compost is drying out within a few hours, it is perfectly sensible to pause.
Wait for a cloudy day, a cooler evening or two or three days of slightly lower temperatures. Seeds need steady moisture while germinating, and that can be difficult to provide during extreme heat.
4. Help the soil retain moisture
Apply a layer of mulch around established plants to reduce evaporation and help keep their roots cooler.
Mulch over already-moist soil, leaving a little space around the stems of your plants.
5. Take care of yourself too
Garden early in the morning or later in the evening, avoid strenuous work during the hottest hours and keep drinking water nearby.
Flowers that cope well with summer heat
These varieties tolerate warm, sunny conditions once established. Newly sown seeds will still need steady moisture and some protection while they germinate.
Verbena bonariensis
Tall, airy stems topped with purple flowers. Excellent for pollinators and sunny borders.
Shop Verbena
Helichrysum Mix
Colourful, papery flowers that enjoy sunshine and are ideal for drying.
Shop Helichrysum
Zinnia Thumbelina
Compact, cheerful flowers suited to sunny pots, borders and containers.
Shop ZinniasPlan now for an organic autumn harvest
Radish, pak choi and chard can all be sown during the coming weeks for autumn harvests. Gardeners in northern and temperate Europe can sow during the next suitable cooler spell. In Mediterranean regions, wait until the most intense heat has eased.
Radish Cherry Belle
A quick-growing crop for crisp, round red radishes during the cooler weeks ahead.
View seeds
Pak Choi Taisai
Best sown as temperatures begin to fall, producing tender leaves and crisp stems.
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Chard Fireworks
Colourful, productive and more tolerant of lingering warmth than many leafy vegetables.
View seedsPrepare for the first cooler window
Look at your local forecast and watch for two or three slightly cooler days together. This can be a good opportunity to sow seeds, transplant young plants and give tired containers some attention.
You can prepare now by filling pots, improving the soil, organising plant labels and deciding what you would like to grow next. Then, when the cooler window arrives, you will be ready.
What can you sow this month?
Choose the guide for your climate to find flowers, herbs and vegetables suited to sowing this month.
Gardening is not about following a date perfectly.
Sometimes the best decision you can make for your plants is simply to pause, watch the weather and wait for better conditions.
Warm (well, hot!) wishes from Cyprus,
Fontana Seeds