July Greenhouse Gardening in the UK...

The Greenhouse Gardener's Diary - July

July is a hot month in the UK, and greenhouses need to be ventiliated as much as possible, plants need to be watered regulary and tomatoes need to be fed.

July is the time to:

Sow:

• Cinerarias

Take cuttings from:

• Fuchsias
• African violets
• Begonia rex
• Gloxinias (Canterbury Bells)

Pot On:

• Primulas sown over the previous 3 months
• Any rooted cuttings

Harden off :

• Pelargoniums

Feed:

• Tomato plants
• Chrysanthemums
• All plants in active growth once a week

Things to do:

- Pinch out tomatoes and chrysanthemums

- Shield plants in the greenhouse with additional shade. Glass can be covered with old newspaper or a thin layer of white wash (watered down emulsion paint)

- Pelargonium cuttings need to be placed into a pot of silver sand and kept cool in a cold house or frame to "strike" (take root)

- Watch out for red spider on peaches or nectarines

- Ventilate the green house as much as possible after fruit trees have finished cropping

- Continue to dampen down the greenhouse, both morning and night

- Dead head any dead flowers

- Remember to ask a neighbour to look after your greenhouse if you are going away on holiday

- Pinch out side shoots from tomatoes and begonias

- Remove male flowers from cucumber plants

- Remove a few leaves from around any ripening tomatoes to encourage air flow

- Support melons as they ripen