There are lots of jobs to be doing on the allotment in June! As the summer months approach, it’s time to start harvesting, keeping those weeds down and of course, sowing for the autumn months! Of course, it’s important to make time for enjoying your garden during the next few months as it will likely be looking it’s absolute best, if it’s not already!
Here are some allotment gardening jobs I’ll be getting up to in June!
- PLANT OUT CROPS
Summer loving crops such as pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers and sweetcorn are all safe to be planted outside now. The risk of frost has gone and the weather is warming up, so they should do well now.
Remember to protect young plants from slug attack and water well if a heatwave is predicted. Smaller plants will dry out quicker until their roots have had a chance to become established!
2. SOW SEEDS DIRECTLY OUTDOORS
So many seeds can now be sown directly outdoors. This is great news if some of your early planted crops have been eaten or have died already! Sunflowers, lettuce, beetroot and carrots can go straight outside. Most of the salad crops can be sown over and over again so that you get a good long harvest from them. This is called succession sowing!
Just keep whacking those seeds in the ground!
3. HARVEST CROPS
Some of your earlier planted crops might now be ready for harvesting. Peas, broad beans and onions and garlic should now be ready to pick and enjoy. Make sure you manage to get down to your allotment plot to harvest before the slugs do!
4. FEED PLANTS
As plants begin on their new adventure outdoors in the big wide world, it’s important to start feeding them. They will grow faster in the warmer months and this will mean they become hungry! A liquid seaweed or tomato feed works well at encouraging fruit and veg production over leaves, allowing the plant to focus it’s energy into giving you a delicious crop instead of a bit of a jungle!
5.KEEP WEEDING
Keep on top of weeding by doing it little and often. Don’t try to tackle the entire plot at once, it becomes overwhelming and just not practical. Instead, do smaller bits little and often to keep them relatively under control!
6. WATER!
It’s pretty obvious, but now the weather is hotting up, crops will become thirsty so be sure to give them a good drink. Try to water the roots, not the leaves to avoid scorching on the leaves. Also, watering in the early morning or early evening instead of the midday sun will stop water from evaporating away before the plant has had a chance to have a good drink!
7. ENJOY THE PLOT!
Possibly the most important thing to do this month, to actually enjoy the allotment plot you have created for yourself. The sun is hopefully out, the bees are buzzing, the flowers and blooming and your hard work is coming to fruition! So sit back, have a cup of tea and enjoy the sanctuary you have created for yourself! You deserve it!
Happy gardening!
