Summer Gardening Guide for Ireland

What to Sow in Summer

Summer sowing focuses on succession crops and winter planning. Continue sowing lettuce, rocket, radish, spring onions and beetroot every two to three weeks through June and July. In July, sow spring cabbage, winter lettuce and brassicas for autumn and winter. August sowings of green manures protect bare soil over winter. Biennial flowers sown in June provide next year's spring display. Quick-growing crops sown in late summer can produce harvests before the first frosts.

What to Plant in Summer

Early summer (June) is for planting out the last tender crops and filling gaps in borders with bedding plants. Take semi-ripe cuttings of shrubs in July and August. Plant autumn-flowering bulbs from July onwards. August is ideal for new strawberry beds. Container plantings continue throughout summer.

What to Harvest in Summer

Summer is the season of abundance in Irish gardens. June brings strawberries, new potatoes, peas and broad beans. July sees tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers, beans and soft fruit at their peak. August is the most prolific month with everything cropping generously. Preserve surplus by freezing, jamming, pickling and drying. Herbs are at their most flavourful for harvesting, drying and freezing.

Lawn Care in Summer

Mow once or twice weekly during summer's rapid growth. Raise the cutting height during dry spells. Water new lawns and reduce feeding in hot, dry weather. Summer is the time to enjoy the lawn rather than renovate it — save major work for September.

General Garden Tasks for Summer

The main summer tasks are watering, feeding, deadheading and pest control. Tomatoes need weekly feeding and regular side-shooting. Support heavy-cropping plants. Tie in climbers. Watch for potato blight from June onwards. Prune spring-flowering shrubs after flowering. Summer-prune wisteria and trained fruit trees. Plan and order bulbs for autumn planting. Water containers daily, twice daily for hanging baskets in hot weather.

Ireland-Specific Tips for Summer

Irish summers are mild and variable, with temperatures averaging 15-20°C and occasional heat waves. Rainfall varies enormously from year to year and region to region. The long daylight hours (up to 17 hours in June) provide excellent growing energy. The west coast is wettest, the east and southeast driest. Irish summer gardens are at their most colourful with roses, perennials, bedding plants and productive vegetable gardens all performing beautifully. Blight on potatoes and tomatoes is the main disease threat in warm, humid conditions.

Recommended Products for Summer

Collectionvegetable Seeds → Collectioncompost Feed Fertiliser → Collectiongarden Tools →

Frequently Asked Questions

The key to summer-long productivity is successional sowing and regular harvesting. Sow quick-growing crops like lettuce, radish and spring onions every two to three weeks from April through August. Harvest courgettes, beans and tomatoes regularly — the more you pick, the more they produce. Feed fruiting crops weekly with high-potash fertiliser. Water deeply during dry spells. Deadhead flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Replace spent crops with new plantings of autumn varieties. A well-managed Irish garden can be producing fresh food from May right through to December.

Potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) thrives in Ireland's warm, humid summer conditions. Prevent it by choosing resistant varieties (Sarpo Mira, Setanta), spacing plants widely for air circulation, and spraying preventatively with copper-based fungicide from June onwards, especially before warm, wet weather. Monitor plants closely for brown patches on leaves and white fungal growth underneath. Remove infected foliage immediately and burn it. In severe outbreaks, cut all foliage to ground level to prevent spores reaching the tubers. Avoid overhead watering.

During warm summer weather in Ireland, container plants typically need watering once daily, and hanging baskets may need watering twice daily. Water in the early morning or evening for best results. Add water-retaining granules to compost when planting up containers. Use saucers under pots to catch drainage water that can be reabsorbed. Group containers together to create a more humid microclimate. Mulch the surface of large containers with gravel or bark to reduce evaporation. Use drip irrigation or self-watering pots for reliability if you're away from home regularly.