Jobs to do in the garden this week
- Feed tomato plants with high in potassium plant food after the first fruits have set. Pinch out any excess lateral stems leaving two to three leading shoots to be tied to stakes.
- Hill-up the soil around the stems of potato plants to prevent maturing tubers from being exposed to the light, which turns them green and poisonous to eat. Alternatively use a thick mulch of compost or straw.
- Spring flowering bulbs can spend a great deal of energy setting seed – bluebells are a typical example. Snip off spent stems, give plants a balanced plant food and look forward to a better show next year.
- Not all bulbs require lifting, most can be left in situ with the exception of tulips and hyacinths, which don’t fare well in hot summer soils and pots.
- Pinch out the growing tips of dahlias and chrysanthemums to encourage the growth of side shoots and a longer succession of flowers.
- Plant leeks for winter harvest. Pick herbs for drying just as they come into flower.
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