Gardening tips for June

One of the main tasks in June is to keep on top of weeds. Hoeing them off as small seedlings will make the job far easier than waiting for them to grow and send their roots down. Hoeing is best done on a dry day so that the weeds don't have a chance to recover.
Earth-up potatoes not ready for harvest (unless planted through black plastic).
Earthing-up is the drawing up of soil around the stems of the plants, leaving just 5cm (2in) of shoot uncovered so that the plant has enough foliage to continue growing.
Thin out rows of vegetable seedlings growing from earlier sowings, such as beetroot, lettuce and radish. The thinnings can still be eaten but remember to settle the soil back around the roots of the remaining ones.
Crops to sow outside in early June include runner beans, dwarf French beans, kohlrabi, carrots, marrows, cauliflowers, peas, ridge cucumbers, sweet corn, swede, lettuce, endive, squashes and spinach.
Tie new canes of raspberries and blackberries to support wires as they grow. Keep them separate from last year's shoots which will flower and fruit this summer.
Spread nets over soft fruit bushes, such as currants, and over strawberries growing in rows or in containers. Once blackbirds and other birds find fruits to their taste they will return again and again and will quickly strip plants of unprotected fruit.
In the greenhouse, continue to remove the side shoots from tomatoes and ensure there is adequate ventilation on sunny days.

Andrew Wilson
Horticulture manager
Hull City Council