July is here. And with a new month comes new plantings and harvests in the garden.

Summer is a great time for vegetable gardening, with nature doing it's thing, providing gardeners with abundant and delicious harvests.

So, to make the most of what your vegetable garden has to offer, don't delay and plant lots of fruit and vegetables quickly. You'll be rewarded with superb harvests in no time.

How to maintain vegetable plants in July

In July, vegetable gardens needs regular maintenance to ensure continuous, high-quality production.

In summer, higher temperatures mean regular watering is essential.

Water preferably early in the morning or in the evening to avoid rapid evaporation and heatstroke to the plants.

Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to conserve soil moisture, reduce weeds and protect the roots from temperature variations.

Regularly remove weeds that compete with your crops for water and nutrients.

Check stakes and tie up climbers or heavy vegetables such as tomatoes to keep them in place and prevent them from breaking. If your crops are too dense, thin them out to allow the remaining plants to develop better.

Use netting to protect sensitive plants from pests and birds. Prune tomatoes by removing the gourmands (secondary shoots) to encourage fruit growth.

Apply organic fertiliser or compost to feed plants in full production and support their growth.

If you grow your plants in a greenhouse, remember to ventilate them well to avoid heatstroke and excessive humidity, which are conducive to disease.

What to plant in early July

In July, the vegetable garden is in full swing and you can still plant and sow a number of vegetables and herbs:

Vegetables to sow

• Lettuce: heat-resistant varieties are ideal for sowing in July.
• Radishes: can be sown for a quick harvest.
• Spinach: autumn varieties can be sown now.
• Chinese cabbage: can be sown for an autumn harvest.
• Turnip: can be sown for an autumn harvest.
• Green beans: there is still time to sow for a final harvest.
• Beetroot: can be sown for a late autumn harvest.
• Rocket: fast-growing, ideal for successive sowings.

Vegetables to plant

• Cabbage: plant winter varieties.
• Leeks: plant young plants for harvesting in winter.
• Fennel: plant for autumn harvest.
• Celeriac: plant young plants for an autumn harvest.

Herbs for sowing

• Basil: grows quickly and can be sown in July.
• Coriander: can be sown for a late summer harvest.
• Dill: grows quickly and can be sown in July.
• Parsley: can be sown for an autumn harvest.

Harvesting in July

In July, at the height of summer, many vegetables and fruit reach maturity. Here are the main harvests to look out for in the vegetable garden:

• Tomatoes: Tomatoes generally start to ripen in July.
• Courgettes: Harvest regularly to encourage continued production.
• Cucumbers: Harvest when still young and crisp.
• Green beans: harvest regularly to prolong production.
• Aubergines: harvest when bright and firm.
• Peppers: harvest green, red, yellow or purple peppers according to their maturity.
• Lettuce: harvest outer leaves or whole heads, depending on the variety.
• Spinach: harvest young, tender leaves.
• Beetroot: harvest when it reaches the desired size.
• Carrots: harvest according to size, young for tender carrots or later for larger roots.
• Radishes: harvest regularly to prevent them becoming too prickly.
• Potatoes: harvest new potatoes.
• Cabbages: harvest early cabbages.
• Basil: harvest leaves regularly to encourage growth.
• Parsley: harvest leaves regularly.
• Thyme: harvest stems before flowering for optimum flavour.
• Rosemary: harvest branches as required.
• Coriander: harvest the leaves before they go to seed.
• Mint: harvest regularly to encourage growth.
• Strawberries: harvest ripe strawberries throughout the month.
• Raspberries: harvest ripe raspberries.
• Blackcurrants: harvest bunches of blackcurrants.
• Currants: harvest red and white currants.
• Melons: harvest when ripe and fragrant.
• Watermelons: harvest when ripe and sound hollow when tapped lightly.