July seasonal events and outdoor activities

July is the start of the holidays, and when harvest gets into full swing.

If the first of July be rainy weather, ’twill rain, more or less, for four weeks together.

English Proverb
A summertime lunch with a view from Kingston to Corfe Castle

The hazy memories of youth (at any age) are often associated with the long, hot summer days, where anything seems possible. Although the solstice has gone, the days are still long and July and August can be the hottest months. Harvest gets into full swing – it’s the month of plenty. So many seasonal foods, it’s a delicious time of year. Busy roads become empty, empty roads become full. Deserted beaches are more crowded than the city streets. No better thing to do on a hot day than sit in the shade of a mighty tree and watch the world go by.

Dates, events, holidays and festivals.

July 2022

Seasonal, astronomical and nautical events

1st July – Spring Tide

7th July – 1st Quarter

8th July Neap Tide

13th July – Full Moon, Buck Moon

14th July – Spring Tide

20th July – Third Quarter

21st July – Neap Tide

28th July – New Moon

29th July – Spring Tide

Festivals and events, religious, traditional and sporting

25th June – Round the Island Race

28th June – 3rd July – Henley Royal Regatta

2nd & 3rd July – Wales Airshow

2nd July – Teignmouth Airshow 2022

2nd July – Wallop Wheels and Wings, Middle Wallop Airfield

2nd & 3rd July – The Capel Military Show,

3rd July – Ironman UK

4th – 9th July – RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

8th – 10th July – Tunes on the Sands

9th July (TBC) – Devizes Carnival

12th – 15th July – Great Yorkshire Show

15th – 17th July – Royal International Air Tattoo 2022

16th – 17th July – Wings and Wheels, North Coates Airfield

18th – 22nd July – Farnborough International Airshow 2022

18th – 23rd July – The Royal Welsh Show

20th July – Driffield Show

20th – 24th July – RHS Flower Show Tatton Park

22nd – 24th July – Sunderland International Air Show

26th July – Ryedale Show

26th – 30th July – The War & Peace Revival, Hop Farm, Paddock Wood

26th – 30st July – Glorious Goodwood Festival

28th – 31st July – Camp Bestival, Dorset

29th – 31st July – The Big Cheese Festival

30th July – Borrowby Show

30th & 31st July – Old Buckenham Airshow

TBA – World Snail Racing Championship

TBA – Bristol Harbour Festival

Also, see the Red Arrows UK display schedule 2022

Find more events and notable dates throughout the year


July seasonal Foods

What foods are seasonal in July.

Greens and leaves:  Basil, Chervil, Cavolo nero, Cabbage, Lamb’s lettuce, Lettuce, Mint, Pak choi, Radicchio, Samphire, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss chard, Watercress.

Roots and other veg: Aubergine, Beetroot, Broad bean, Carrot, Courgette, Courgette flower, Fennel bulb, Garlic, Globe artichoke Onion, Spring onion, Mangetout, Pepper, Potato, New potatoes, Peas, Radish, Runner bean, Tomato.

Meat: Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork.

Fruits: Blackcurrants, Cherry, Gooseberry, Raspberry, Redcurrant, Strawberry, Tayberry.

Seafood: Crab, Halibut, Salmon, Kipper, Mackerel, Tuna.

Exotics: Banana, Pomegranate, Nectarine, Watermelon.

Find out more about seasonal foods throughout the year with a guide to Seasonal foods.


In nature

Fair weather is the friend of all.


On the Farm in July

Harvest begins. Oilseed rape (Canola), winter barley and wheat.

Sheep shearing. Lambs are given worm dose vaccinations and footbaths.

Haymaking & Silaging.

Irrigate potatoes to encourage growth and ‘filling out’. Irrigation of other crops as required (especially market garden crops).

Spray potatoes.

Baling and carting straw or straw chopped fine and left.

Find out more about what is happening in the Year on the farm


Bright geranium outside a house

Things to do in July

In the July garden

What to plant and sow

Gardening hints

Ipsum text

Out and about

Also, see the Out and about Blogs

Long summer days.

A narrow boat cruising down the kennet and Avon canal.

Recipe of the month.

Summer garden soup

Soups are not just winter warmers, but a celebration of what is seasonal. Soups can also be quick, tasty, and nutritious – not always a worthy use of bones or other leftover items.

This soup is a real summer celebration of summer seasonal specials, with the fresh flavours from garden produce.

I admit, I got very excited about this recipe when I found it, it’s by Gill Mellor, who along with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a food hero of mine. I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing it on here – please visit his site, and maybe get one of his excellent books ( I really should have a link for this). Both Gill and Hugh celebrate the ingredient, respect the seasonal, and make the food rather than the chef the star of the show – as it should be.

Ingredients

2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed, halved and diced

4 new potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1cm cubes

1 litre well flavoured vegetable stock

1 medium courgette, cut into 1cm cubes

2 large handfuls freshly podded broad beans

2 handfuls freshly podded peas

6 spring onions, trimmed and thinly sliced

1 small lettuce, washed and shredded into 1-2cm pieces

Large handful mixed fresh herbs, (such as mint, flatleaf parsley, basil, fennel tops or chives), leaves picked and chopped

Squeeze fresh lemon juice

Equipment.

Nothing specialised. You should be able to make this using what you usually find in a kitchen.

Preparation

wash and prep the veg. Chop the courgette, potato, and fennel – shred the lettuce. Pod the peas and beans.

Make the stock.

Cooking

Set a large heavy-based pan over a medium heat.

Add the olive oil followed by the fennel and potatoes. Season them lightly and soften gently, without colouring, for 6-8 minutes.

Add the vegetable stock and bring to a low simmer (see tip).

Make sure your broth is simmering, then drop in the courgette, broad beans (see tips), peas and spring onions. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the shredded lettuce and cook for a further 2 minutes.

Stir in the herbs and season to taste with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Ladle the soup into warm bowls, then add a trickle of your best olive oil just before serving.

For more inspiration see the Food Blogs

July Jobs in the vegetable garden or allotment

General Jobs

Weeding and Mulching. As much as your plants will be growing, the weeds will be twice as fast.

Watering when required, helps fill out the produce and prevents bolting.

Earth up potatoes and brassicas.

Feed tomatoes and peppers.

Take cuttings of herbs.

Net fruit against birds, finer net for brassicas against butterflies.

Trim and tidy fruit trees and plants as required.

Remove Pea and Broad beans after harvesting.

Dry out and ripen Onions, Shallots and garlic.

Sowing and Planting

Outdoors: Sow – BrBeetroot, Cabbages (spring), Calabrese, Carrots, Chicory, Endive, Fennel, French beans, Kale, Kohl rabi, Lettuces, Oriental leaves, Peas, Radishes (winter), Rocket, Spring onions, Sprouting broccoli, Swiss chard, Turnips.

Plant: Chicory, Endive, Lettuces, Radishes, Rocket, Salad leaves, Spring onions.

Harvest

Aubergines, Apricots, Beetroot, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Broad beans, Broccoli, Carrots, Celery, Cherries, Chicory, Chillies and peppers, Courgettes, Cucumbers, Fennel, French beans, Garlic, Globe artichokes, Gooseberries, Kohl rabi, Lettuces, Marrows, Melons, Nectarines, Onions Peas, Peaches, Peaches, Potatoes, Radishes, Raspberries, Redcurrants, Rhubarb, Rocket, Runner beans, Shallots, Spring onions, Spinach, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Turnips, Whitecurrants.

Find out more about what is happening in the allotment or vegetable garden

Colourful hanging baskets outside a cottage.

Activities, things to see and do in July

With lengthening days arise more opportunities to get out and about. To see what is happening in nature and the countryside. There is also a lot more to see as they year really starts to get going.

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July in pictures