Summer Gardening UK
June to August is harvest season. Keep on top of watering, feeding, and succession sowing and your garden will produce more than you can eat. Here's what to do every week of summer.
What to Sow, Plant & Harvest Each Month
| Month | Sow / Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| June | French beans, beetroot, lettuce, chard, kale (for autumn), spring onions | Broad beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, early potatoes, strawberries |
| July | Lettuce, spinach, spring onions, turnips, radishes | Courgettes, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, beetroot, carrots, garlic |
| August | Spring onions, winter salads, land cress, pak choi | Tomatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn, peppers, aubergines, onions |
Key Summer Tasks
| Task | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water consistently | Throughout | Water deeply at the base; avoid wetting foliage to reduce disease risk |
| Feed tomatoes & courgettes | Weekly from June | High-potash liquid feed (tomato feed) once fruiting begins |
| Pinch out tomato sideshoots | Weekly | Cordon varieties only — keeps energy directed into fruit |
| Harvest regularly | Throughout | Pick courgettes at 15–20cm; beans before pods toughen; keeps plants productive |
| Succession sow salads | Every 2–3 weeks | Lettuce, radishes, spring onions — prevents gluts and gaps |
| Watch for blight | July–August | Warm, wet weather triggers late blight on tomatoes and potatoes |
| Lift garlic & onions | July | When foliage yellows and falls; dry in sun before storing |
Top Summer Crops to Harvest
- Courgettes — pick every 2–3 days to keep plants producing
- Tomatoes — feed weekly; harvest as they ripen from July
- Runner & French Beans — pick young and often for continuous cropping
- Cucumbers — harvest at 15–20cm; leave on plant and they go bitter
- Sweetcorn — ready when silks turn brown; test by pressing a kernel
- Beetroot — harvest golf-ball size for best flavour
Summer Gardening Tips
- Water in the morning or evening — never in full midday sun
- Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Don't let courgettes, beans, or cucumbers go unpicked — it stops the plant producing
- Start sowing autumn and winter crops (kale, chard, spring onions) in July — don't wait
- Check for aphids and blight weekly — early action prevents major losses
See our Garden Problems hub for pest and disease fixes.
Never Miss a Harvest Window
Our UK Vegetable Garden Planner includes harvest windows for every crop so you know exactly when to pick.
Get the Planner — £19Frequently Asked Questions
What should I be doing in the garden in June?
June is about maintaining momentum: water and feed regularly, harvest early crops like broad beans and peas, succession sow salads and beetroot, and keep on top of weeding. Plant out any remaining tender crops early in the month. Start thinking about autumn — sow kale and chard for harvesting from September onwards.
How often should I water vegetables in summer?
Most vegetables need watering every 1–2 days in dry weather, more in containers. Water deeply at the base of plants rather than little and often — this encourages deep root growth. Tomatoes and courgettes are particularly thirsty. Inconsistent watering causes blossom end rot in tomatoes and split roots in carrots.
How do I stop my lettuce bolting in summer?
Lettuce bolts (runs to seed) in heat and long days. Choose bolt-resistant varieties for summer sowing, sow in a slightly shaded spot, water consistently, and harvest outer leaves rather than whole plants to extend the season. Sowing every 2–3 weeks ensures a continuous supply even as earlier sowings bolt.
When should I harvest garlic and onions?
Harvest garlic and onions when the foliage yellows and begins to fall over — typically July. Lift carefully with a fork, brush off soil, and dry in the sun or a well-ventilated shed for 2–3 weeks before storing. Properly dried garlic and onions store for 6–12 months in a cool, dry place.
What can I still sow in August?
August is not too late for quick-maturing crops: spring onions, radishes, land cress, pak choi, and winter salad leaves can all be sown now for autumn harvests. It's also the time to sow overwintering onion sets and Japanese onions in some regions. Don't sow anything that needs more than 8–10 weeks to mature before the first frosts.
Match The Season To The Work
Seasonal jobs usually come down to watering, soil care, and keeping a simple record of what needs doing next.
Plan the next step
Use the printable UK Vegetable Garden Planner to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts, and weekly garden tasks.