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What to Plant in Scotland Each Month: Veg, Fruits, Herbs & Edible Flowers. Planting in July
Many gardeners think July is the end of the planting season, but in Scotland, it’s far from over. While the garden is bursting with colour and harvests, July is also one of the best months to sow crops for late Summer, Autumn, Winter and even next Spring.
With long daylight hours and warm soil, seeds germinate quickly and young plants establish rapidly. July is all about succession sowing, replacing harvested crops with fresh ones to keep your garden productive for as long as possible.
Whether you’re growing in raised beds, containers, a food forest or a small kitchen garden, there’s still plenty to plant this month.
PHOTOS: From end of June to show where we got to with our growing and sowing
Vegetable Seeds To Start Indoors In July
Spring onions: quick-growing; ideal for late Summer harvests.
Lettuce: sow every couple of weeks for a continuous supply.
Pak choi: fast-growing; perfect for late Summer and Autumn.
Chinese cabbage: enjoys cooler conditions later in the season.
Kale: hardy and productive; sow now for Autumn and Winter harvests.
Spinach: start now for harvesting as temperatures begin to cool.
Winter cabbage: long-growing; sow now for overwintering crops.
TIPS
July is the perfect month for succession sowing. As early potatoes, peas and garlic are harvested, reuse that space for leafy greens and brassicas. Keep seed trays and young seedlings well watered during hot weather and provide some afternoon shade if temperatures become unusually high.
Herb Seeds To Start Indoors In July
Parsley: reliable for Autumn and Winter picking.
Coriander: enjoys cooler conditions than midsummer heat.
Dill: quick-growing; excellent for late Summer harvests.
Chives: hardy perennial with edible flowers and leaves.
Basil: continue sowing indoors for fresh kitchen herbs.
Rocket: often grown as an herb or salad leaf; quick to crop.
TIPS
July is a great time to sow another batch of herbs to replace plants that have flowered or become woody. Harvest regularly to encourage fresh growth, and pinch out flower buds on basil if you want to prolong leaf production. Keep containers well watered as herbs can dry out quickly in warm weather.
Edible Flower Seeds To Start Indoors In July
Calendula: flowers quickly and continues into Autumn.
Nasturtium: fast-growing with edible flowers and leaves.
Viola: sow now for autumn blooms and overwintering plants.
Pansy: ideal for early Spring flowers next year.
Cornflower: sow for earlier blooms next season in mild areas.
Chives & garlic chives: attractive edible flowers and pollinator favourites.
TIPS
Keep deadheading flowering plants throughout July to encourage continuous blooms. Water regularly during dry weather, especially container grown flowers, and harvest flowers early in the morning when they’re at their freshest. Avoid picking flowers immediately after rain, as they’re more delicate and don’t store as well.
Fruit & Nut Trees To Plant Outside In July
While Autumn remains the best time for planting trees, container grown specimens can still be planted successfully in July. Water deeply two or three times a week during dry periods, mulch to conserve moisture and avoid planting during heatwaves if possible.
Fruit Bushes To Plant Outside In July
Strawberries: plant runners now to establish next year’s crop.
Blueberries: container grown plants establish well with consistent watering.
Blackberries: container grown plants can still be planted.
Currants (container-grown): suitable for Summer planting.
Gooseberries (container-grown): establish well with regular watering.
TIPS
July is an excellent month to plant strawberry runners while they’re actively producing. For all newly planted fruit bushes, water deeply during dry spells and mulch well to retain moisture. Continue harvesting ripe fruit regularly to encourage healthy plants and reduce the risk of pests and disease.
You can see what is going on outside in out month tours:
Month By Month In Our Scottish Gardens: Tours & Planting
Happy Gardening!
P.S Our Story book Vol 3 : Clayton’s Tiny Little Seeds: A Story of Autism and Sowing is a perfect time read to introduce sowing
Follow Us Across Our Socials
Katrina & Clayton and family live in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on instagram. They practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The 2 Grow and Learn Courses with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. He is Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated since 2018. Katrina & Peter hold their PDC & PDC PRO Permaculture Design Course from Oregon State University.
They featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens Ep23 2022 and returned in 2023 for an update, Katrina & Clayton are also columnists for ScotlandGrows Magazine, Guest Blog for Caledonian Horticulture as well as working with Gardeners’ World Magazine and many other brands.
They are also Author of the new Children’s Book Series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Topics on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing & Composting and 108 Page Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle.
Listen in on their Guest Podcasts to learn more about them.
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Our Children’s Book Series
Author of the new children’s book series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Including Stories on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing, Composting, Feeding The Birds and A Sowing, Growing, Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle
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