The Garden House Tasks for July
Posted:10 July 2025
I am not a big fan of July as I always feel the garden starts to look tired (and so am I!) and this year we have had so little rain which doesn’t help – however, of course, there is still lots to do!
Please bear in mind these tasks are not a comprehensive look at all garden aspects, but relate directly to our monthly work in the Garden House garden, inspiring and teaching the volunteers, students and Friday group gardeners who get stuck in and support the development of this unique Brighton garden.
*Sowing lettuce and other salads in the greenhouse – we do this in boxes and it works well for cut-and-come again planting – also another sowing of basil and coriander.
*Water tomatoes regularly to prevent blossom-end rot – feed weekly.
TIP: the large heritage beef tomatoes are finding it difficult to ripen (we are growing T. ‘Brandy Wine’) and so all the energy is going into the bottom fruit and the flowers at the top are struggling. We will remove the tomatoes once they reach breaking stage (when they start to take on colour) and leave them to ripen off the plant and then the energy should move up the plant so more tomatoes develop.
Remove the bottom leaves so the light reaches the fruits.
*Cucumbers are being trained around a cane and then twine into the top of the greenhouse Eric Ravillous style! ( see his wonderful painting The Cucumber House).
*Sowing of biennials needs to be completed soon – Wallflowers, Lunaria, Hesperis, Dianthus barbatus, Myosotis, Hollyhock, Digitalis – if you don’t have much space prick them out into modular trays and grow the on until October when you plant them out (make sure they don’t dry out).
*Cut flowers for the house every day – sweet peas, Ammi, Dahlias, Calendula and all the other annuals.
TIP: sear stems for 15 seconds in boiling water to stop them from flopping.
*Cut back hardy geraniums, Astrantias, Papaver orientalis, Alchemilla molis, but do feed and water them – it is really worth it as they might give you a second flush of flowers as well as new leaves.
*Cut back Pulmonarias and Brunnera.
*If you have an overgrown Clematis ‘Armandii’ or C.’Montana’, and it has outgrown it’s space, prune it now. These flower on previous years growth so cut them back to a framework.
*Cut back herbs such as Oregano, Mint and Chives and they will soon put on new growth – water and feed.
*Water wisely – only water containers, greenhouse veg and salads and newly planted things.
TIP: we make a note of new plantings so we can check every day if they are doing ok.
*Deadhead annuals, roses and perennials for more flower power.
And finally – don’t forget to enjoy the summer evenings! Sit back and enjoy your garden – you deserve it after all your hard work.