As we approach June the warm balmy nights are lengthening and mid-summer is almost upon us. You've likely been busy weeding and planting as seed germination and plant growth really accelerates and have hopefully been making the most of the extra light in the evening to tend to your patch.

There's still plenty of things that can be sown in June, although it is getting late to sow courgettes, winter squashes and cucumbers (early June is your last chance!). Try to keep on top of your salad sowings so that you have continous harvests. Wait until after solstice to sow things like chicory, oriental greens, kohl rabi and florence fennel as they will be less likely to bolt.

It's also a great time to direct sow flowers like poppies, zinnias, calendula, cosmos, sunflowers, or nasturtium.

For a full list of things you can sow this month click on the link below:

Succession sowings for non stop harvests

What do we mean when we talk about succession sowings?

Succession sowings are multiple sowings of the same crop at intervals throughout the season. Doing this ensures you have a continuous harvest of each crop and can always harvest it at its best quality.

You might have noticed that many fast growing crops can often go past their best if left in the ground for too long - especially if you have planted more than you can harvest / eat. That's why doing small sowings more regularly means that you can space the sowings out rather than using up all your seeds in one go.

It's also a great way to fill in any gaps as you finish harvesting and begin to clear some of your crops - for example a small sowing of radish can be a great space filler!

Crops which are most suited to succession sowing are:

• ​Lettuce​
• ​Radish​
• ​Beetroot​
• ​Dwarf French Beans​
• ​Kohlrabi​
• ​Courgettes​
• ​Spring Onions​
• ​Sweetcorn​
• ​Carrots​

N.B. it is not wise to sow Asian greens (e.g. pak choy) until after the summer solstice (21 June), as they are day-length sensitive and will likely bolt fast if sown before then.

Tomato pruning tips!

Your tomatoes will be growing rapidly at this point and it's a great idea to keep pruning (or side-shooting) them regularly to ensure good airflow between plants and maximise the plant's fruiting potential.

The tomato varieties that we sell are known as indeterminate tomatoes, meaning they are varieties that will keep on growing indefinitely until the growing point is removed or growing conditions are unfavourable. Indeterminate tomatoes are vigorous sideshooters and if left to their own devices would produce a rather tangled mess with fewer fruits and more susceptibility to disease. By pruning and winding around a central support, the plant is encouraged to grow upright with as many fruiting trusses as possible.

Have a look at your plants and notice how they grow. You'll see new stems growing in between the main stem and the branches at a 45 degree angle. These are the shoots that need removing. To do so simply place your thumb and forefinger at the base of the sideshoot stem and snap away from you. If the sideshoot has been left to grow large it may be worth doing this with a sharp knife or secateurs to avoid damaging the main stem.

A good rule of thumb for sideshooting and winding on tomatoes is once per week.

You'll also want to make sure the plant is wound on each time you prune. We'd recommend winding the plant around the string in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction, keeping the points at which the stem and the string are in contact away from any fruiting trusses to avoid damaging them.

When your plant has reached the top of its string / support it's a good idea to remove the main head of the plant. This then encourages the plant to put its energy into ripening the fruit on the trusses already formed. As your plant matures later in the season prune any yellowing or dead leaves towards the base of the stem. This helps to increase airflow around the plants and increases the sunlight that can reach the ripening fruit trusses.

Welcoming Elizabeth to the team

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Elizabeth has recently joined Vital Seeds as our new Order Fulfilment and Germination Test Co-ordinator. Alongside her role with us Elizabeth is a herbalist and brings a wealth of plant knowledge to the team. She is also a hugely talented basket weaver, making mixed media sculptural basket bags by hand using natural materials foraged and harvested locally. Check out her website to see her beautiful creations.

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What does your job involve at Vital Seeds?

I'm the order fulfilment and germination test co-ordinator at Vital Seeds three days a week - my job is to get seed shipped out to customers, and to test our stock regularly to ensure it is germinating reliably. I also enjoy getting involved in the field and other aspects of the business when needed!

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What three crops do you love growing?

When it comes to growing I'm a big fan of leafy greens, and love kale for its hardiness and productivity. As a medicinal herbalist I love growing plants with healing properties - there are always plenty of Calendulas in my garden, and I think Elecampane is an indispensable and beautiful plant, with its roots being a fantastic remedy for chronic coughs and chest infections.

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What do you love about seeds?

Seeds are often small and overlooked, yet are fundamental to so much of life on earth. When I look at flowering plants around me, I see staggeringly rich and diverse processes that are all unfolding towards the same endpoint - the seed. Seeds are an example of true wealth - the actual promise of more life and sustenance to come. I believe caretaking open-pollinated seed varieties in organic conditions is crucial for the future of our food, and therefore the future of us humans here on earth! We and the seeds are deeply entangled in each other's survival, and I find it interesting and humbling to consider who is serving who in seed-human relationships.

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​All the best and happy growing :)

Chloe and the rest of the team

P.S. Aphids are now out in force! Check your plants regularly for damage control and encourage natural predators to your garden such as ladybirds, ground beetles, earwigs, hoverflies and parasitoid wasps.