ORCHARD : Raspberry canes are laden right now — harvest every morning with a light touch so the berries don’t bruise. Cut back any canes that have already fruited cleanly to the base with sharp secateurs; this opens up airflow and redirects energy into next year’s growth. Check fig trees and kiwis for developing fruit: remove any split or damaged specimens to prevent fungal spread.
VEGETABLE PATCH : A fruit day rewards careful harvesting. Squash are swelling fast — gently press the skin; if it resists your thumbnail, the fruit is ready. Watermelon plants benefit from a potassium-rich liquid feed applied around the root zone, roughly 2 litres per plant, to concentrate flavour in developing fruits. Courgettes left unpicked quickly become marrows, so check plants daily and harvest at 15–20 cm for the best texture.
LANDSCAPING : Wisteria’s summer growth is vigorous — shorten the long whippy shoots back to five or six leaves from the main framework to keep the plant tidy and build flowering spurs for next spring. Lavender is approaching peak bloom; a light trim of the flower stems after the first flush will encourage a second wave without cutting into old wood.