June in the Garden

June is finally here and with it we have summer! Here are some of the top jobs for getting the most out of your garden this month:

Maintaining Tomato Plants

If you have planted tomato plants during the spring, now is probably the best time to turn your attention towards maintaining them.

Pinching side roots of tomato plants will prevent your plant from becoming overgrown and becoming too imposing in your garden. It will also mean that the plant’s energy is focused through the main stem towards the flowers rather than being diverted toward these side shoots, allowing your tomatoes to ripen quicker.

It is also important to train your plant by tying it with twine to bamboo canes. Avoid tying the twine too tight as this will prevent the sap flowing up the stem.

Harvest Fruit and Vegetables

Now is the time to reap the benefits of any fruit or vegetables you’ve planted earlier in the year. Some fruit and vegetables such as potatoes, cucumber or salad greens are often best harvested when still immature and at their peak tenderness. Others like tomatoes are best picked when fully ripe and have had time to develop their flavour.

Try to keep an eye on the weather forecast and avoid harvesting when it’s wet, especially when harvesting disease-prone crops such as tomatoes or potatoes.

Make sure to use appropriate tools when harvesting. For certain crops such as potatoes, large tomatoes, potatoes and carrots it’s worth using pruning shears or a garden fork. This will prevent your fruit or vegetables from becoming damaged when harvesting which means that there are no entry points for disease.

Use Moisture Control Gel in Compost

Adding moisture control gel to your compost in your hanging baskets or window boxes will increase its ability to hold water, as well as releasing water to the soil, which is really important in the warm weather.

This saves time and reduces watering frequency throughout the season, and is ideal for all plants both inside and outside.

Relax!

Summer is here, don’t forget to enjoy and admire your garden once the hard part is over! Be sure to check out our outdoor living range to make your summer garden the perfect place to kick back and relax.

Get in Touch

Gardens really are our second nature. So if you’d like help with something on this post, or anything else in your corner of second nature, please reach out to us on social media, or by email on hello@countrylife.ie. If the question is quite specific, it’s really helpful to include a photo. We’d love to help.

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SHOP PRODUCTS

All products mentioned in the above blog can be bought on countrylife.ie or in you local Tirlán CountryLife branch. To find your nearest store click here.

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