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Edible Garden

Continue planting seed and seedlings of dwarf beans, beetroot, carrots, spring onions and lettuce for successive crops, every 2 to 3 weeks.  

If space allows, plant seedlings or sow seed of vegetables for late summer, autumn and winter. Celery, parsnip, leeks and the brassicas—cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower—which will need to be protected from the white cabbage butterfly. 

Sow small batches of rocket and other easy salad leaves every three weeks for a quick and continuous supply of salad greens.

Cut down broad beans after harvesting, but leave the roots in the soil to release nitrogen as they decompose.

Protect vege seedlings from slugs and snails with Quash or Blitzem. 

Protect young vegetable and flower seedlings from downy mildew with FreeFlo Copper. 

Feed rapidly growing tomatoes and vegetables with liquid ican Fast Food, and a side dressing of ican Tomato Food. Once tomatoes start flowering, switch from a general-purpose fertiliser to one higher in potassium. General-purpose fertilisers are high in nitrogen, which is great for getting fruiting plants off to a good start, but can result in lots of leafy growth during the period when you want your plants to put their energy into flowering and fruiting. 

Remove laterals (side shoots) from tomatoes, and provide support with stakes or a frame. Tap the flower trusses each day to shake the flowers which improves pollination.  

Protect tomato plants from diseases and pests including tomato/potato psyllid (TPP)with FreeFlo Copper and Enspray 99 at 2-3 weekly intervals. 

Protect summer brassica crops (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower) from aphids, moths and white butterfly with Success Ultra and Enspray 99 at 3 weekly intervals.

Feed growing crops of potatoes with ican Potato Food, and mound the rows as the shoots grow. Mounding supports the plants, protects the developing potatoes from exposure to light (which makes them go green), and prevents them being attacked by caterpillars of potato tuber moth.  

Protect potato shoots from blight, aphids and tuber moth with FreeFlo Copper and Enspray 99. Use Success Ultra at 10 day intervals to protect from the tomato/potato psyllid.

Cultivate (hoe) between rows of vege seedlings regularly as weeds grow rapidly at this time of year.  

Time to shake your sweet corn! Corn is predominantly wind pollinated. Pollen needs to move from the male 'tassels' (at the top of the plant) to the female 'silks' (on the top of the developing cobs). Give pollination a helping hand by regularly shaking sweet corn plants, to release as much pollen as possible.  

Feed strawberries with ican Berry Food. A layer of straw around strawberry plants will help keep developing fruit clean and free of disease. 

Plant passionfruit in a warm sheltered spot with ample support for the growing vine. Plant into free-draining soil enriched with sheep pellets, ican SlowFood and ican Premium Compost. ‍

Spray passionfruit with FreeFlo Copper, Enspray 99 and Mavrik monthly to protect against diseases and sap-sucking bugs – aphids, mealy bugs and passion vine hopper.   

Tie in or support the canes (shoots) of raspberries, boysenberries and blackberries, and protect frombirds with netting or mesh. Spray with Free Flo Copper, Enspray 99and Success Ultra to protect against pests and diseases. Feed with ican Berry Food. 

Protect citrus trees from aphids, scale and sooty mould with Conqueror Spraying Oil which will smother the pests and their eggs. Add Free Flo Copper for control of verrucosis disease.  

Add a layer of mulch around the drip line and up to but not against the trunk, of established fruit trees, small fruits and ornamental trees and shrubs, to help retain moisture over the summer months.  

Feed all fruit trees in containers with ican Fruit Food for Pots and Planters, and in the garden with ican Fruit Food to support and enhance growth and fruit development. 

Remove excess apples in clusters, to one or two fruits (thinning). If left on the tree, the apples will be small and ripen unevenly.

Ornamental Garden

Sow seed and plant seedlings of your favourite summer flowers in the garden enriched with compost. Water in and feed with ican Fast Food  or ican Ocean Grow to give the plants a boost and keep them healthy. 

Deadhead geraniums,  penstemon, dahlias, salvias and delphiniums, and liquid feed with ican Fast Food to encourage new flowers. 

For shady spots in the garden try some of the new impatiens available now, or choose from one of the many Fuchsia varieties for a stunning Christmas display. 

Spring flowering bulbs that have died off can now be lifted and stored in a cool dry place until planting out again in March and April. 

Mulch flower beds with compost or pea straw to conserve moisture and reduce the number of weeds that may appear. 

Plant up containers and hanging baskets with seedlings of your favourite summer flowers such as lobelia, alyssum, dianthus, geranium, petunias and zinnias. Use premium ican Premium Potting Mix and feed with liquid ican Fast Food for quick results and plenty of blooms. 

Increase watering of all plants in containers and pots, including indoor plants, as the weather warms. Add liquid ican Fast Food to support new healthy growth. 

Roses will be blooming. Keep dead heading roses and water deeply to ensure a second flush of blooms. Protect from aphids and fungal disease with Combat 3-in-1 for Roses spray. Feed with ican Rose Food and mulch with Mulch and Feed. 

Trim back any flowering shrubs that have now finished—this will encourage new growth over summer for next year's flowers. Give them a feed with a dressing of ican Slow Food. 

Lawns will begin to dry out. Apply fasting acting Lawn Force fertiliser and water as often as possible. Do not cut too closely.  

In dry regions, begin regular watering. The best time to water is in the morning or early evening. Water the soil not the plants. Water deeply once or twice a week, not a sprinkling everyday. Incorporate Saturaid to help the soil hold onto more moisture. Add deep layers of mulch to trap moisture in the soil. 

Earwigs can become a menace, chewing on soft new growth and fresh flowers. Spray susceptible plants with Mavrik, and place screwed up balls of slightly damp newspaper between susceptible plants. The earwigs will hide there during the day so you can collect them up and burn them or dispose into the rubbish bag.  

The warmer weather will be stimulating indoor plants into growth - help them along with a weekly dose of ican Indoor Plant Food. Or apply a teaspoon of ican Slow Food which will keep them happy for 12 months or more. 

Don't spread your swan plants out but plant them close together and close to other shrubs or large annuals like cosmos and zinnias. The caterpillars get more protection from  predators in the 'forest' than those planted as 'specimen trees'.