We've harvested onions and garlic, but what can we plant in July and August now?

Thrifty gardeners plan their plantings in advance, trying to utilize every corner of their plot. In the second half of summer, the beds are empty after onions and garlic, and it's not at all practical to leave them empty if it's possible to plant crops that will ripen before the cold weather sets in or perennials.

In this case, the empty land will not be overgrown with weeds and will delight you with a fresh harvest.

Possible landing options

Depending on the region, onions and garlic are harvested in July or August. When choosing a crop for planting in a given location, consider the plant's growing season and the conditions prevailing before the onset of cold weather. During this period, daylight hours gradually decrease, and nighttime and daytime temperatures drop, significantly affecting development and ripening.

Sowing green manure

Green manure plants help improve the soil structure, enrich it with nutrients, protect against weeds, and are easy to sow.

What can be sown:

• Phacelia - compatible with subsequent plantings of any crop, excellent attractor of pollinating insects, honey plant;
• mustard (white) – helps to cope with wireworms and mole crickets, contains a lot of nitrogen, grows quickly, reaching a height of 70 cm by winter, helps to retain snow if it is not mowed;
• Barley - suppresses weed growth, helps destroy nematodes and scab spores, but can attract wireworms;
• oats are a universal precursor for all types of plants (excluding cereals), and help enrich the soil with potassium;
• Legumes saturate the soil with nitrogen, and early varieties of peas have time to ripen before the cold weather sets in.

Cucumbers

Early cucumber varieties planted in July, given warm, sunny weather, will produce a bountiful harvest before the cold weather sets in. In areas with cool, rainy weather in August, it's important to provide cover for the beds, as cucumbers are heat-loving crops. By planning ahead, planting from seedlings is recommended, which shortens the ripening period. Seedlings grown in eggshells are particularly convenient—they don't damage the roots, significantly simplifying the planting process.

Radish

Black or green radishes are ideal for planting in July. Their ripening times are such that they will reach maturity by the onset of cold weather, and late-season radishes store well for a long time. Radishes and daikon (Japanese radishes) should be planted a little later, in mid-August, when daylight hours are shorter and temperatures are optimal.

Herbs for greens

The germination time of any herb (dill, parsley, cilantro, spinach, and various types of lettuce) is such that, if planted in July, you can have juicy, vitamin-rich greens by August. The downside of planting herbs is that they don't like heat, so you can protect the beds from the bright sun with a lightweight covering material, such as spunbond. This protection will also reduce moisture evaporation, which is also important.

Strawberries

Garden strawberries and wild strawberries grow well after garlic and onions – the phytoncides of bulbous plants prevent the spread of fungal infections and repel slugs and insect pests.

What is not recommended to plant after onions and garlic?

You may be tempted to plant bulbous crops in empty beds, such as shallots, leeks, and winter garlic, but this is not recommended for the following reasons:

• the set of nutrients consumed by different types of bulbous plants is the same and for subsequent plantings of similar crops it may no longer be sufficient, and it takes time to restore the composition of the soil;
• Common pests and pathogens remain in the soil and can harm subsequent crops.

Onions and garlic also do not mix well with tomatoes, cabbage, turnips, and beets.

Tips and reviews from experienced gardeners

Mikhail Ivanovich, Belgorod

In southern regions, garlic is harvested early, around July 12th. To keep the beds full, I plant them with Alligator dill—I like the flavor of the greens, and the juicy, soft stems are great. Immediately after harvesting the garlic, I lightly dig the soil and sow the seeds in moist soil. Cover the bed with a loose spunbond and water regularly. Seedlings appear in 5-7 days, and when they reach a height of 5-7 cm, I remove the cover. By mid-August, the dill is ready for edible use, or it can be cut for freezing and drying. I grow early carrot varieties in the same way (I like the ultra-early variety "Bureau"). Soak the carrot seeds before planting. If the bed size allows, you can combine dill and carrots—an excellent option.

Alevtina, Kursk

I like to plant mustard after garlic or onions. When it reaches 20 cm, I cut it back, leaving it in the bed. The mustard continues to grow, and in the fall, I mow it all down to the ground, dig the soil, and by spring, the fertilized bed is ready for new plantings.