Our events this year Starting with our regular meeting, and Community Garden Sessions Any support is very welcome. @gardeninguk.bsky.social #Urbanism+ #gardens Help Us Grow. Follow Us On On Social Media. Mastadon  Bluesky  Facebook & Instagram    Linkedin Threads Reg Charity 1166228

Take stock – what worked well this month? Make notes for next year. 🗣️ What’s your biggest win (or lesson) this June?

Thin out apples and pears – it helps the rest grow bigger and better. 📏 How do you decide how many to leave per cluster?

Sow dwarf French beans now – they’re quick and reliable before autumn. 🥗 How do you cook yours – steamed, sautéed, or raw?

Harvest courgettes small – better flavour and more keep coming. 💭 Ever had a monster one sneak up on you?

Chillies and peppers need sun and shelter – perfect for greenhouses or sunny patios. 🔥 What’s your favourite variety to grow in the UK?

Deadhead herbs like basil to keep new leaves coming. 🌿 Any tips for preserving fresh herbs through summer?

Outside, Brighton UK. I'm not getting much in the way of male flowers, 2 so far, v small, v little pollen - about 10 females - Konsa F1, are my cu fruits going to fail as a result? I've searched unsuccessfully for info.

Team cane - means I keep more of a regular eye on them.

... nitrogen ...er ..I make it myself 😜

Tie in French beans gently as they climb – supports = stronger growth. 🪴 Are you team cane, string, or wigwam?

Make comfrey tea for a free liquid feed – rich and easy to brew. 🧪 What’s your secret ingredient for homemade fertiliser?

Remove side shoots from cordon tomatoes to boost fruit production. 🍅 Bush or cordon – which do you prefer and why?

Summer solstice! The perfect time to sow something new. 🌼 What are you planting this weekend?

Mulch thirsty plants like courgettes to keep moisture in. ♻️ Do you use homemade compost as mulch?

Weeding little and often helps crops thrive – and clears your head too. 🧘 What’s your favourite mindful gardening task?

Sow Florence fennel now for a late summer harvest. 🧄 Any companion plants you’d recommend?

Sweetcorn likes company – plant in blocks for better pollination. 🌽 How many plants do you grow per block?

Outdoors (UK Midlands)

Keep cucumber roots moist to avoid bitter fruit. 🌞 Are you growing yours outdoors or under cover?

and beetroot and horseradish dip or beetroot houmous

beetroot risotto

Sow beetroot every few weeks for sweet, tender roots all summer. 🍽️ Pickled, roasted or raw – how do you eat yours?

Leaves - we are lucky enough to have lots of trees on our property, so have them in abundance. They make a brilliant mulch.

I just occasionally throw chicken manure pellets at mine

Feed fruit bushes now to support healthy fruiting. 🍇 Do you mulch with compost, feed with liquid, or both?

Grow strawberries in hanging baskets – saves space and foils slugs. 📸 Got a creative container idea? Show us!

Over winter, we mulch our veg beds with manure straight from our rabbitry. It suppresses weeds and is pretty much all turned into compost by spring. It feels like cheating!

I use galvanised materials, last a life time and the beans really don't seem to mind as well. 😉

Nantes for the last few years

Cherokee Trail of Tears (climbing), Jacobs Cattle, Taylors Dwarf and Yin Yang (bush varieties for drying). All from Real Seeds.

Rhubarb crumble

I bury deep in 30L pots, then mulch with chopped straw. No earthing required. Works a treat.

I earth up with lawn clippings and home made compost 😄 #nodig here 😉

Earth up your potatoes to protect tubers and increase yields. 👣 Do you earth up by hand or with a hoe?

Net your brassicas to protect from pigeons and cabbage white butterflies. 🧠 What’s worked best for keeping brassicas safe?

Time to stop harvesting rhubarb – let the plant recover for next year. 💡 How do you use up a glut of rhubarb?

Harvest garlic when lower leaves start yellowing. Cure in the sun before storing. 🧺 Softneck or hardneck – what do you grow?

Sow a fresh row of salad leaves now – little and often keeps harvests coming. 🌱 What’s your go-to salad mix for summer?

Slug patrols after dark work wonders – or try beer traps as a natural option. 🔍 Found any clever organic slug solutions lately?

No room for a tree? Try dwarf fruit trees in pots – ideal for patios and balconies. 🍏 Which compact fruit varieties are worth the space?

Pinch out broad bean tips once pods form to deter blackfly. 💬 Anyone growing heritage bean varieties this year?

Tomatoes flowering? Time to switch to high-potash feed. 🌿 Do you make your own plant feed? Share your recipe!

Net your strawberries now if you want to enjoy them before the birds do! 🗣️ What’s your best tip for protecting fruit without chemicals?

Try a fast-maturing carrot like ‘Amsterdam Forcing’. Still time to sow for summer snacks! 👩‍🌾 Any favourite carrot varieties you swear by?

Sow your last courgettes now for a late summer crop – they’ll catch up fast in warm soil. 👉 What’s the latest you’ve sown courgettes and still had a good harvest?

🪵 Set up your bean poles or wigwams before sowing – they’ll be climbing in no time. 💬 Do you go for rustic hazel poles or neat bamboo frames? #BeanSupports #GrowYourOwn #diggingtheearth

👑 April is perfect for planting asparagus crowns – give them space, sunshine, and patience. 💬 Are you starting an asparagus bed this year or waiting for next? #AsparagusTips #PerennialVeg #GrowYourOwn

🍂 Mulch around young plants with compost or straw – it locks in moisture and feeds the soil. 💬 What’s your favourite mulch to use on the plot? #MulchingMagic #AllotmentTips #diggingtheearth

🥄 Sow turnips now for tender roots in a few weeks – great in mash or roasted. 💬 Baby turnips or full size – what’s your preference? #TurnipGrowing #GrowYourOwn #diggingtheearth