July gardening checklist

With wetter weather around it is harder to get out in the garden, a good time to do some planning with a cup of tea in hand! Frosts and snow will be about in some areas, when in doubt cover and protect all your hard work.

Key gardening points for July:

• Continue to plant garlic and shallots, it's not too late.
• Strawberries can be planted from July through to October.
• July is the perfect time to plant deciduous trees, including new seasons deciduous fruit trees and citrus.
• It is rose pruning time and time to plant new season roses.
• Prune hydrangeas.
• Protect frost tender plants from frosts.
• Protect all seedlings from slugs and snails, they love tender seedlings and the wet weather.
• Leave the soil alone when it is wet, working with wet soil will compact the structure making it clump.
• All fruit tree pruning should be finished now.
• Feed all vegetables with a liquid general fertiliser.
• Check over your larger trees for any wind damage, prune and seal any larger cuts.
• Plant new deciduous trees, stake well.
• Finish pruning all fruit trees and spray with copper spray and winter oil to stop bugs and diseases burrowing in for the winter.
• Cover frost tender plants with frost cloth; drape the cloth over but not touching the plants. If it is too close a hard frost will freeze it to the plants.

What vegetables to harvest in July

During July, many of the winter vegetables will be ready to harvest. Winter vegetables ready to harvest in July will include:

• Cabbage
• Kale
• Bok Choi
• Leeks
• Peas
• Onions
• Radish & Turnips
• Lettuce

What veggies to plant in July in New Zealand

In July, continue to plant winter vegetables:

• Beetroot
• Garlic and shallots can still be planted, give them plenty of that winter sun.
• Bok Choi
• Peas
• Broad beans: Can be planted directly in to the soil, stagger sowing for a continuous harvest. If you have plants already underway pinch out the first flowers to improve cropping.
• Leafy Greens

July in New Zealand is peak winter, make sure to protect your vegetable harvests from the cold. If you have a greenhouse, transplant your vegetables to the garden as the weather warms and when they are showing at least two sets of true leaves.

Sprouted potatoes can also be planted in the ground the climate warms up. Prepare the ground in cooler regions.

What fruits to harvest in July

During July, citrus fruits will be ready for harvest. This includes:

• Mandarins
• Lemons
• Orange
• Lime
• Feijoa
• Grapefruit

What fruits to plant in July

July is a good time to plant strawberries to prepare for the seasons ahead and deciduous fruit. Deciduous fruit trees like apples and pears should be planted while they are dormant before the end of July.

Fruits and fruit trees to plant in July include:

• Apples
• Pears
• Feijoa
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Cranberries

What flowers to plant in July

Early in July, sow seeds indoors for flowers to protect young seeds from the cold and move them into garden beds once at least two true leaves appear.

Flowers to sow in July include:

• Polyanthus
• Delphinium
• Dianthus
• Primula
• Larkspur
• Nemesia
• Pansy
• Salvia
• Snapdragon
• Wallflower

At the same time, plant ready-grown seedlings of cold-tender varieties, keeping them sheltered while young. Flower seedlings to plant in July are:

• Pansies
• Primula
• Polyanthus
• Calendula
• Stock
• Lobelia
• Violas

Best bulbs to plant in July

As July comes to an end, shift attention to summer-blooming bulbs. Flower bulbs to plant in July are:

• Gladioli
• Tuberous begonias
• Dahlias
• Calla lilies

Apply bulb food as flower bulbs emerge for stronger growth. Complete any outstanding rose pruning along with cutting back perennials and hydrangeas. Support healthy blooms by applying liquid fertiliser fortnightly to all flower beds.

July is also a good time to finish pruning all hydrangeas.