What to Plant in July in Cape Town — Sowday

Vegetables

39 in season

Start indoors · seedlings need a cold snap to set buds in year one

Direct sow · sow every 2-3 weeks for a steady peppery harvest

Direct sow · soak seed clusters overnight to speed germination

Direct sow · fall crops resist bolting better than spring ones

Direct sow · pinch growing tips once pods set to deter aphids

Herbs

12 in season

Start indoors · loves heat, don't rush it outside before frost

Direct sow · prefers cool shade, bolts quickly once hot

Start indoors · perennial clumps, snip leaves for repeat harvests

Direct sow · bolts fast in heat, sow small batches often

Direct sow · taproot resents transplanting, sow direct

Fruit

6 in season

Plant canes · thornless varieties are easiest for small gardens

Plant bushes · needs acidic soil and a second variety to pollinate

Plant canes · prune out canes older than three years each winter

Plant canes · mind the thorns; pick slightly underripe for pies

Plant canes · ever-bearing types fruit the first autumn