August 10th, 2022 by Sarah Miles

While many might assume spring and autumn are the main seasons for planting fruit and vegetable crops, there are still varieties that you can plant in the summer. Summer planting can provide a project to do with the kids while they’re having a well-earned rest from school or give the committed gardener a year-round crop to enjoy.

Here are 5 edibles crops you can plant in July/August.

1. Strawberries
   Most fruit needs sowing in spring or autumn but strawberries can be planted in late summer. They grow best in moist soil with some well-rotted manure or garden compost dug in. You can also add a general fertiliser.
   
   Trim roots to around 10cm and dig a hole large enough to accommodate them. Make sure that the base of the crown rests lightly on the surface. If it’s planted too deep, it will rot. If too shallow, it will dry out and die. Growing through polythene sheets or mulching film will help suppress weeds as well as retain water through the warm months of summer.
   
   Harvest when fully red. They will take approximately 4-6 weeks to grow. Cut by the stem rather than pull the fruit as you risk damaging them.
    
2. Kale
   Kale is really healthy, versatile to cook with, and one of the easiest greens to grow. You can plant from March right through to August. Sow seeds around 0.5cm deep and when the plants grow to around 10cm, push the soil up around the roots to give added support as the plant grows.
   
   Mulch will protect the soil in very dry weather and water well throughout the summer. You can protect it from birds and caterpillars with some horticultural fleece. Older leaves can be bitter so cut them when young. It can usually be harvested after around 3 months.
    
3. French Beans
   While it’s too late to grow climbing varieties, dwarf beans can be planted in early summer, and this will give you crops well into the autumn. Sow in pots or directly in the ground to around 2cm deep. Transplant as they grow to 25cm apart and support with sticks.
   
   They take around 6-8 weeks to grow and are ready when the pods snap cleanly in half. Delicious cooked or raw.
    
4. Beetroot
   Beetroot is easy to grow and can be sown until the end of July. You can grow in containers or directly in the ground and they benefit from well-rotted manure or compost or add fertiliser. Thin out the seedlings when they grow to around 2.5cm tall.
   
   Once they get to around golf ball size, you can start to harvest alternate plants. The remaining plants will grow to full maturity (don’t allow them to get larger than a cricket ball), giving you a crop over a few weeks. Boil or roast them or grate them raw into a salad or homemade coleslaw.
    
5. Radishes
   If you have only ever eaten the small, pink radishes you get in salads, you have been missing out on the winter varieties which are milder and robust enough to cook with, making them perfect for stir-fries, soups, and stews. You can even eat the leaves, which are peppery like rockets but can be cooked like spinach. They are also really good for you as they are a great source of vitamin C and contain antioxidants.
   
   A useful tip is to water the soil before you start planting so that you don’t displace the tiny seeds by watering them afterwards. Plant 2-3cm deep and around 5-7cm apart in rows. They take around 8-10 weeks to grow but you can leave them in the ground once ripe. They can even withstand the first frosts, just make sure you harvest before the ground freezes. Remove the leaves and keep them in the fridge and they’ll last for months.