At the end of July, the summer harvest enters the heart and the ground begins to give signs of tiredness. Understanding what to collect and how to immediately regenerate the soil is essential in order not to lose momentum and prepare better for autumn crops.


There is no need to be experts to give new energy to the garden: a few gestures are enough, a little attention and the right time. Do you want to see the vegetable garden flourish in September? So now it’s really the ideal time to act, without hesitation. End of July has something particular, almost poetic: it is that silent passage in which one cycle closes and another is prepared, often richer. The fruits ripen under an intense sun, the leaves begin to mention slight fatigue, and the earth … well, the earth launches clear signals. You need a trained eye to grasp them, but also those who cultivate out of passion immediately notice it.
Have you already thought about how to prepare the soil for the next sowing? It is not a trivial question, because everything is now decided: the strength of the soil, the balance between crops, the quality of the next harvest. Better not to wait too much: every day in July it is a small opportunity to improve, observe, act. Summer is not just a harvest time. It is also the perfect time to look forward.
What to collect in late July in the garden
In this period the vegetable garden is a riot of colors, perfumes and flavors. But not everything matures at the same time. Some vegetables must be caught on the fly, others can still be left a few days. It only takes a careful look and a little sensitivity. Among the vegetables from collect at the end of Julythe tomatoes stand out, which ripen in clusters and must be collected frequently to prevent them from ruining themselves under the intense sun. The courgettes, on the other hand, give the best when they are still small: the more they grow, the more they risk becoming fibrous and less tasty. The aubergines recognize themselves ready when the peel is lucid and tense; If it becomes opaque, they probably have passed the optimal collection point. Even peppers begin to color: both green and ripe can be grasped, but waiting for the full color means savoring them at the maximum of their potential. The cucumbers, if collected as soon as they reach the right measure, retain that irresistible crunchiness. And then there are the green beans, which must be collected regularly: the more it is captured, the more the plant feels stimulated to produce new pods.
In many areas, it is also time for onions and garlic. The signal? The leaves that begin to bend and dry out. At that point, just extract them gently from the ground and let them dry in the sun for a few days before keeping them in a cool and ventilated place.
How to regenerate the ground after the harvest
When the vegetable garden empties, the soil remains naked and a little fatigued. Regeneration comes into play here. It is precisely at this stage that the earth must be listened to and accompanied, not neglected. Although at first glance it seems to be off, under the surface it continues to work. But you don’t need to wait months: even in a few days you can restore vitality to the earthwith simple and natural methods.
Before sowing again, it is useful:
- Distribute compost mature, spreading it on the surface and mixing it only lightly on the ground.
- Sow legume As a sevesches, such as clover or hidden, which improve the soil structure and enrich the nitrogen.
- Protect with mulchusing straw or dry mash, to maintain humidity and lower the ground temperature.
- Deepeven if it does not plan immediately, to stimulate microbial life.
- Plant rapid coverage varietiessuch as mustard or facelia, who work the ground of course.
All this helps to restore a biological balance. It is believed that summer is time only for collection, but it is also the season in which the ground is preparing for the future. Those who anticipate the needs of the earth will find themselves with a stronger and more productive vegetable garden in the following months.
Practical tricks for land ready in September
There are those who leave the garden on pause in August. And who instead silently prepares it for new blooms. Because the fertility of the soil is built nownot in September.
Better not to leave the soil discovered for a long time: direct exposure to the sun and wind impoverishes the soil and makes it less welcoming for new crops. A natural fertilizer, distributed now, is much more effective than any late intervention when plants are already in difficulty. Alternating more demanding vegetables with varieties that help the soil regenerate themselves is a good strategy: legumes, chard or leafy vegetables are perfect for giving breath to the earth.
If after irrigation the soil forms a hard crust, it is the signal that is missing organic matter: compost, well mature manure or humus can resolve quickly. Finally, we must not forget the role of spontaneous and medicinal plants, such as Calendula, Borragine or Nasturzio. In addition to making the garden more beautiful, they attract useful insects and improve the overall balance.
A vegetable garden never really rests. Change, adapt, breathe. And in July he lives one of his most delicate phases: that of the passage. A curve to be dealt with carefully, to arrive in September with a living, soft and energy loaded soil.
It is not very enough, really. A well -made year -sink, a mulch given at the right time, a sowing designed in advance.
They are small gestures that tell only one thing: cultivating well is a matter of gaze, not just technique.
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