How to make the best of your plot this summer
Make sun tea You need a large clear jug, a handful of herbs (mint, lemon verbena or lemon balm, say) and water. Put the herbs in the jar, fill with water and leave in the sun for at least four hours, so the flavours slowly brew out. Delicious.
Water only if plants are gasping Watering in the midday sun is such a waste because so much is lost to evaporation. Wait until dusk, have a glass of something nice yourself and give everything a long, good soak.
Do a little light hoeing On a hot day, this is one of the most effective ways to weed. Sharpen the hoe, then hoe just under the soil's surface, so you slice the weeds off at the base; the roots quickly wither and die.
Plant something that flowers its socks off The herbaceous clematis is one to fall in love with. It has sweet-smelling, dainty flowers that go on and on, and there's no fussy pruning. It likes to lean rather than climb, and looks good next to shrub roses, resting against a fence or in a large pot. The bell-shaped white flowers of Clematis intregrifolia 'Alba' are my favourite.
For herbs to pick all summer, sow in batches now Sow basil, coriander and dill fairly thickly to use as baby leaves, or thin to 20cm for large plants. All need full sun. Use a pot or windowbox that's 20cm deep, otherwise you'll be watering endlessly.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/may/07/summer-gardening-alys-fowler
No comments:
Post a Comment