Summer at last, but we do need a lot of rain, as the soil is so dry. Don’t waste water on the grass because it will green up as soon as the rains come. When cutting the grass keep the blades high. If you trim the edges now it will make a vast improvement on the look of the garden. Keep watering the beans, courgettes and squashes and leafy greens. We have had dreadful infestations of blackly on the broad beans and artichokes making them virtually unusable. This is despite growing marigolds beside the beans and spraying with soapy water. What we really need is some heavy rain to wash them off. We are lifting potatoes daily for dinner; we have grown Charlotte again this year. The pigeons have eaten the brassicas again and they have even had a go at the spinach. Our sweet corn is not very tall this year maybe I have been sent a dwarf variety by mistake. The raspberries and strawberries have been very good. The garlic and shallots are ready for lifting and are nice and dry. We must lift them before the rains come. It looks like a good tomato crop. I have been picking the cucumbers for a couple of weeks now. Keep these and the peppers well watered and fed with Tomorite. We have had a fantastic cherry crop, which we are happy to share with the birds; they can have those at the top of the tree. Cut down the old fruited raspberry canes and tie in, peg down the strawberry runners for next year’s new plants. Keep picking beans, give away your surplus or freeze it. Save broad bean seed for next year. The first flush of early summer flowers is over now so cut down the tall spikes of lupin and delphinium, cut the Oriental poppies down to the ground and you might get a second flowering. Deadhead the paeonies unless saving seed. I get brilliant results from paeony seed. All the iris stems should be cut down save what seed needed to get new clumps of Pacific Coast iris as these don’t like being split. The seed won’t come true but you will get some pretty crosses. Keep deadheading and watering the dahlias, any moisture loving flowers would appreciate a watering too.

The Spetchley and District Gardeners’ Society are having their annual Flower Show on August 7th. There is an open gardening section, which covers vegetables and flowers, cookery and preserves, photography and a children’s section. Schedules from the Post Office or David Pollitt 01905 381739. All welcome entry 10p a class and the show is free.