Top grow your own veg for June

Generally, June 21^st is the date when it’s advised to stop picking asparagus. This is because it’s a perennial crop and needs to be left to build up resources in order to continue producing those tasty spears the following year. So, resist the urge to pick after that date, but before then continue to harvest regularly.

Now is the time to plant runner beans plants outside. Harden them off for at least a week first, to get them used to outdoor temperatures and also to toughen up the stems. There’s nothing a slug or snail likes more at this time of the year than young, soft stems to munch through! Runner bean seeds can also be sown outside directly into the soil alongside cane or hazel pole supports.

Bulbs planted last year should be ready to harvest between June and July but wait until the foliage starts to turn yellow before doing so. The bulbs will by now be deeply rooted, so you’ll need to dig rather than pull them out of the ground. Use a fork rather than a spade to avoid potentially slicing through them. Shake off excess soil and allow to thoroughly dry out before storing by either hanging bunches tied together for 3 to 4 weeks or place in a single layer on a raised wire rack.

Depending on when the seeds were sown, broad bean plants should by now be flowering or producing pods. Either way, ensure the soil is kept moist but not wet. Check the stem tops and, if you see colonies of black aphids taking up residence, don’t panic, simply pinch off the tops with the aphids and put on your compost pile.

Young pods can be picked when they’re 7.5cm (3in) long and then cooked whole. Alternatively wait for the beans to become larger before harvesting. An easy way to tell if they’re ready to pick is when the outline of the beans starts to show through the pod. Pick often, as this will encourage more pods to form, picking from the bottom of the plant upwards.

If you planted Japanese onion sets last autumn, they should be ready to harvest this month. Wait until you see the foliage start to turn yellow and droop before gently loosening the roots. If it’s sunny, leave the onions lying on the soil for two or three days to dry out before storing. If it is wet then put them under cover.

Cut leaves off leaving about 2.5cm (1in) of foliage and trim the roots before storing. However, if any of the bulbs are starting to flower harvest and use them immediately as they won’t store well.