What should I plant now (end of July)?

[eeksypeeksy]

I have some sunny space in the garden. What can I get away with planting now (at the end of July)? If there aren't any good vegetables to put in this time of year, what flowers or other ground cover (bird food, butterfly food, etc.) would be good to start now?

I'm in zone 6 on this map, on the Baltic coast.

[Andy Hamilton]

not entirely sure as it is not my zone, Very similar to the middle of Scotland though so I imagine that some of our scottish members could help you out.

I am going to plant some more beetroot, carrots, radishes and lettuce next week. If you could get hold of some brassica seedlings then you could plant some of those. I woder if you might do ok with some garlic too, some books say that you can plant it all year round although I have no experience of this.

[eeksypeeksy]

Thanks, Andy. I think I'll try the lettuce, maybe some spinach, and I'll grab any other packet of seeds I can find that says you can plant this late in the year.

[Chickpea]

I'm a big fan of radishes. They're one of the quickest things to get out of the ground. I bung them in all over the place.

[Millymollymandy]

I have yet to sow my curly kale which I'll be doing shortly, in pots, then planting out about September ish.

Still time for parsnips and carrots, I'm still sowing them.

Loads of time for salad crops - lettuce, rocket etc and spring onions and radishes.

You could still get a decent crop of spinach beet.

Annual herbs like basil, dill and coriander.

There's lots of things, really!

[eeksypeeksy]

I must get more seed. Thanks!

[chadspad]

French beans are still OK to do now arent they? We are still doing them with success.

M3 - are your parsnips coming up? Ive tried 2 packets of seeds now but had nothing. I tried some on the window sill, then planted them out but only 1 remains . I did read somewhere that they are to be sown Feb/Mar and other than that, youve pooped it! Will they be ready for eating this year?

[Millymollymandy]

I bought parsnip seed from England and not the 'demi long de Guernesey' which seems to be the only variety available in France, which I've not had much success with.

Maybe they like my soil, although only about half germinate the first sowing, so I just go back and fill in the gaps with more seed.

I sowed the first lot in April, then next lot in June, and have just filled in the gaps of the June sowing.

This is what I did last year and I still have a freezer full of them from last year!! I think they only need about 3 months before they are ready to eat.

I have heard that they don't like to be transplanted, so it is best to plant them in situ. Also that they like sandy soil - which I have plenty of!

[ina]

I'll be planting some of the stuff I haven't managed to get out yet , whether it's too late or not! With the weather being so strange this year anything might happen, so why not try.

It's definitely time for lambs lettuce, though, to be picked all through the winter (provided there's not too much snow on top).

[Nickey]

of course everyone's an expert and I'm no ecxeption! (X being an unknown quantity and Spurt being a drip under pressure!) But I'd say, that you prob get more sun this time and heading into September than earlier, if you live anywhere like Scotland?! So not Garlic as it needs to be cold when you plant it, radishes might bolt this time of the year...but give it a go! Brassicas, purple sprouting and caulis would do well, so I'm with Andy on that one! Although I'm still planting lettuce, on a rolling rotation to keep them coming! Let us know what works! Good luck Nickey x

[Han&Matt]

I put some leeks in at the weekend (10cm ish plants rather than seeds) - they seem pretty happy and love the frosts so can overwinter happily...

[diver]

don't mention parsnips...I've put 7 ( yes SEVEN) packets of seeds in and none have come up.
I'd plant beet root, and brassicas, salad greens and herbs.

[eeksypeeksy]

I'd plant beet root, and brassicas, salad greens and herbs.

We've just done that, minus the brassicas, because I don't even know what the hell a brassica is.

*google google*

"Brassica - Cold hardy plants such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts"

Right, they're next, if I've still got room.

[Millymollymandy]

It's just the general term for the cabbage family, of which radish is a part of!

[eeksypeeksy]

It's just the general term for the cabbage family, of which radish is a part of!

Ah. Two kinds of radishes just went in a couple of days ago. Thanks.