what to sow and grow in july
July already - and it shows. The garden is in full, wild swing. The long-awaited heat and extended daylight hours are pushing everything to grow - including weeds! We are in the middle of harvesting our beloved peaches, blackcurrants, and heritage garlic, and sowing out the winter pumpkins and squashes.
Here at Fat Tomato, we’re still sowing and planting - because gardening in Ireland is never really “done.” This month is about succession sowing, planning for autumn and winter, and keeping crops happy and productive in the heat, or whatever July weather throws at us.
WHAT WE’RE SOWING AND GROWING IN JULY
Salads and Leafy Greens
Rocket, mustard greens, spinach, and cut-and-come-again autumn/winter lettuce are on the list to sow.
With the heat, we will be sowing them in modular trays in a cooler spot, as lettuce in particular hates heat when germinating.
Winter Brassicas
Now’s the time to sow purple sprouting broccoli, cabbage, winter kale, and cauliflowers.
These will be planted out in late summer and provide us with food through the colder months.
Start in trays and pot-on before planting out - strong seedlings withstand pests better.
Beetroot and Carrots
There’s still time for a final sowing of fast-maturing beetroot and early carrots for an autumn/winter harvest.
Keep soil moist during germination, especially if the weather stays dry.
Turnips and Swedes
Great to sow now for autumn and winter eating - they like the cooler end of summer.
Use fleece early on to keep root fly off, and thin for good spacing.
Florence Fennel
We love fennel at Fat Tomato! Sow in July for crisp bulbs in early autumn.
Needs regular watering and a sunny, sheltered spot.
Dwarf French Beans
There’s still time to sow another round - especially in warmer spots or polytunnels/glasshouses.
Great in containers or tucked into gaps between crops.
Water well and harvest regularly to keep them coming.
Herbs
Fast-growing herbs like Coriander, Dill, Chervil, and Parsley can still be sown in July, making them great for salads and summer cooking.
Coriander prefers cooler temps, so partial shade helps it last longer before bolting.
OTHER JOBS FOR JULY
Daily watering - with so many plants in pots and raised beds here, we have a routine in place to ensure nothing is parched.
Mulching is a daily task here to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.
Feed fruiting crops weekly with our homemade organic liquid feed, comfrey and seaweed tea.
Training tomato plants - with over 200 plants to look after, it is a daily task.
Harvest regularly - the more you pick, the more you get.
The Honesty Farm Shop is full of flavour right now - with summer produce, small-batch condiments, and some late-season heritage plants still available. If you’re growing alongside us, we’d love to hear what’s working in your garden this month.
Let us know how things are growing - tag us on Instagram or drop us a line.