VEGETABLE PATCH : Morning dew still clings to the leaves — a good sign that the soil holds just enough moisture for fresh sowings. Chicory is an excellent choice today: sow in place 1 cm deep, seeds 3 cm apart, and thin later to 30 cm between plants, rows 35 cm. Parsley rewards patience — sow 1 cm deep, seeds 2 cm apart, thinning to 10 cm in the row, rows 25 cm; the harvest runs well into autumn. Pick fresh mint for drying now, cutting stems just above a leaf node to encourage regrowth. Foliar sprays of diluted nettle tea on leafy crops will strengthen foliage and improve resistance to summer stress.
ORCHARD : Kiwi plants push out strong lateral shoots through July — pinch each lateral back to five leaves beyond the last fruit to keep the canopy manageable and direct energy into fruit development. Grapevine tendrils can be guided and tied to their supports now; remove any leaves shading the grape clusters to improve air circulation and encourage even ripening.