Apples Finish summer pruning the sideshoots on trained apple trees. In July prune back the main shoots and sideshoots to five leaves, especially on cordon-trained varieties. Raspberries Pick the last crops, then prune the stems of summer varieties down to soil level. Courgettes Regularly pick small and tender courgettes, carefully cutting them off at the base with a sharp knife. Wear gloves if your hands are particularly sensitive to their prickly leaves and stalks.
Runner beans Pinch out the tips of any climbing shoots when they reach the top of their supports.
Leeks Transplant leeks from their seed-bed when their stalks are about the thickness of a pencil. Potatoes Hot and humid conditions can encourage a rapid spread of potato blight, so consider spraying the crops with a fungicide such as copper oxychloride to prevent an attack. Watering Concentrate watering on crops in flower and those carrying fruits or pods, such as runner beans, and on moisture-lovers, such as celery. Extra water given to potatoes can also boost yields. Your month ahead Flower garden General care Greenhouse Kitchen garden Wildlife Latest bulletins from the horticultural scene.