Frances Tophill's guide to June pruning

Finally, a little rain fell around the state, though things remain fairly dry overall. Disease and insect pests are becoming more common as tomatoes, cucurbits, and sweet corn come to harvest. See details below.

Summer is arriving and, all of a sudden, the kitchen garden is coming into its own. I am harvesting masses of salad leaves, broad beans and strawberries, and hopefully the first new potatoes. I can almost see things growing before my eyes, including the weeds, which I make an effort to keep on top of every few days (although I leave self-seeded dark pink poppies and some mauve linaria to encourage insects and add colour). To make the most of a small space, I grow salad leaves in large galvanised metal troughs, making sure that I sow a new crop every few weeks so I have a constant supply through the summer. Salad leaf mixes, including swift-growing, cut-and-come-again lettuce, rocket and mustard leaves, are available from almost any seed company, or at garden centres. Winter salad leaves, including mizuna, are best sown after midsummer, as they tend to run to seed quickly. I grow my salad leaves in the least time-consuming way, scattering the seeds thinly on the surface of the prepared soil or compost, and raking them in gently with a hand rake. Keep them watered and they will germinate within a few days and be ready to harvest in about six weeks. If you want to grow them in your vegetable beds, it is better to sow them in drills, so that the emerging seedlings are easily distinguishable from the weeds.

Hydrangeas are the stars of a summer garden.

Handy Vegetable Harvesting Guide Not sure when is the best time to harvest different vegetables? Check out our handy guide to learn about the signs of ripeness (and overripeness!) to pick vegetables at their peak. Tips for harvesting vegetables

Are you keen to jazz up your cooking with edible flowers?

June growing with Cel

Growing garlic is simpler than you probably imagine. The outcomes are usually satisfying and the whole process takes little time and effort. The main conditions garlic requires are sufficient sunshine, well-drained soil, proper watering, and regular weed removal.

As the weather continues to warm up, strawberry harvest wraps up, tomatoes and peppers are coming on strong, and cucurbit harvest is beginning. Read more details below.

The South Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents (SCACAA) recently held its annual meeting in the beautiful town of Beaufort, SC.

June brings long sunny days and warmer weather – ideal for sowing half-hardy annuals in situ and planting out tender vegetables. Fruit like strawberries are ready to pick and borders are overflowing with cottage garden favourites such as roses, geums and lupins.

June growing with Rachel

Rainwater harvesting is the practice of collecting and storing rain for reuse, rather than letting the water run off and be absorbed into the ground or channeled into drains, streams, or rivers. It is one of the easiest ways to conserve water at home while also lowering your bills. Whether you opt for a custom-designed system or a simple rain barrel collection method, harvesting rainwater is a smart and sustainable choice.