Seeds for green beans (even the purple ones) can be sown every few weeks through summer. (C) CapitvatingLighting/Dreamstime.com
Still hungry for a food garden? There’s plenty of time to sow seeds directly in a garden or in pots and still enjoy a harvest this season.
If you’re a proficient and experienced gardener, you likely already know you can still sow vegetable and herb seeds in July. And then there are those of us who just got a late start on the season. If you only have a balcony, patio or porch, you can grow a lot of these in pots.
Beginning gardeners may not realize they can sow green beans, corn, cucumbers, summer and winter squash, melons and more in summer. Cucumbers and green beans can be grown on a trellis to add edible height in the garden. It also takes less space to have vining plants grow up than trail along the ground.
In containers, grow carrots, radishes, bush cucumber and potatoes. In another six weeks, you can sow seeds for lettuces and other greens, and plant seedlings of broccoli and other cool-season vegetables.
Sow seeds in pots or in the ground
In pots or in the ground, seeds of basil, dill and cilantro are among the annual herbs that can be sown now for harvest in a few weeks.
Garden centers may still have seeds in stock, or look at online merchants. Urban Farmer Seeds in Westfield, Indiana, has many of these seeds, which can be ordered online.
I sowed Renee’s Gardens’ Short Stuff carrots June 30 in a SmartPot container. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Sowing seed directly means you plant the seeds right in the soil. The seed packets usually tell you how deep to plant the seed and whether it needs to be covered with soil. Some seeds need light to germinate and others don’t.
Soil warm, ready for seeds
Sowing seeds, especially this time of year, is very easy. For one thing, the soil is warm, which encourages speedier germination. And some early season pests are no longer a bother.
Short Stuff carrot seeds germinated within six day. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Of course, the seeded area has to be watered (use a showerhead nozzle) until and after germination. Once the plants have their first set of true leaves, start fertilizing, according to label directions. Within several weeks, you’ll have fresh batches of herbs and vegetables to enjoy.