Mid-Summer Reflections for the Comox Valley Gardener

There’s something magical about a Comox Valley garden in July. The sun is high, the days are long, and every garden bed seems to hum with energy—from the juicy promise of ripe tomatoes to the hopeful flutter of fall greens just peeking through the soil.

If your garden feels a bit like a busy farmers’ market right now, you’re not alone. July is that sweet spot between the full flush of summer harvest and the first whispers of autumn prep. It’s when we get to enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of our spring labour, while also making room for what’s to come.

🥗 Sun & Salad Season

Right now, your garden is likely bursting with leafy greens, peas, beans, zucchini, and berries, not to mention the tomatoes and cucumbers doing their thing in the heat. It's peak salad season—and your kitchen is probably seeing just as much action as your compost pile.

If you’ve got basil, cilantro, or dill growing, don’t forget to keep pinching them back to delay bolting and keep those leafy herbs lush. They’re perfect for tossing into everything from grain bowls to bruschetta, or just layering on a sandwich with a fresh tomato slice the size of your palm. That’s the good stuff.

🌱 Seedlings & Second Chances

While you're munching on summer's best, July is also the time to think a few months ahead. A quick stroll through your garden beds might reveal a few fading characters: bolted lettuce, tired radishes, maybe the last of your spring broccoli. These spent spots are golden opportunities.

It’s time to start your second wave: kale, chard, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, spinach, and winter radishes can all go in the ground now. If you're worried about germination during the heat, try watering the soil well before sowing, and then cover the seeds lightly with shade cloth or even a bit of burlap to keep them cool and moist.

With the Valley’s gentle maritime climate, you’re in a sweet zone for year-round gardening—if you plant now, your fall garden will reward you when the days get shorter and cooler.

🍓 A Garden in Transition

There’s a rhythm to this moment in the garden: part feast, part forecast. You’re harvesting heavily and thinking ahead. Maybe you’re drying herbs, freezing berries, or just eating as much fresh as you can every day. Maybe your compost is growing faster than your zucchinis (which is saying something).

It’s also a good time to edit your space. Remove what’s no longer thriving. Top up your mulch to hold moisture through any heat waves. Stake anything floppy, water deeply, and walk barefoot where you can—July is for reconnecting with the joy of the garden, not just the task list.

🌻 Final Thoughts: A Garden Full of Possibility

So whether you're snipping salad greens in the sunshine or sowing seeds for your fall harvest, know that you're right on track. July is the gardener’s balancing act—a little bit of harvest, a little bit of hope, and a whole lot of dirt under your fingernails.

Keep harvesting. Keep planting. And most of all, keep enjoying the little daily surprises your Comox Valley garden brings—because this is the heart of the season.