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3 Crops to Plant Now for Late Summer Feasting

ByAllotment Kitchen

It’s not too late to sow something delicious! Mid-season might feel like you’re behind, but there are plenty of fast-growing crops that thrive in warm soil and longer daylight — and they’ll be ready just in time for your late summer feasting.

Here are three fantastic crops you can plant now (late June to July) and enjoy before the season ends, with tips on how to grow them and what to cook once they’re ready.

🥬 1. Pak Choi

Sow: late June to mid-August
Harvest: 30–50 days after sowing

Pak choi is fast-growing, versatile, and perfect for stir-fries, broths, and salads. It prefers cooler, moist soil, making it ideal for sowing mid-summer as the days start to shorten.

How to grow:

  • Sow direct or in modules and plant out after 2–3 weeks.
  • Space 20–30cm apart in fertile, well-watered soil.
  • Water regularly to prevent bolting.
  • Slugs love the young seedlings — protect them early on.

How to eat:

  • Slice and stir-fry with garlic, soy and sesame oil.
  • Use in ramen-style noodle soups.
  • Eat baby leaves raw in mixed salads.

🛒 Fine Mesh Crop Covers
Help protect tender brassicas like pak choi from flea beetles and pigeons.

🟢 2. French Beans (Dwarf Varieties)

Sow: up to late July
Harvest: within 8–9 weeks

Dwarf French beans are a brilliant fast crop for pots or borders. They don’t need support like climbing varieties and produce a generous crop in a short time.

How to grow:

  • Sow direct into well-watered soil in a sunny spot.
  • Space 15cm apart in rows or blocks.
  • Keep soil moist and mulch around the base.
  • Harvest regularly to keep them cropping.

How to eat:

  • Steam and toss with olive oil and lemon zest.
  • Add to niçoise-style salads with egg and tomato.
  • Fry with garlic and breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping.

🛒 Dwarf Bean Seeds
Choose colourful mixes to brighten up summer plates.

🥗 3. Radicchio

Read more
What to Grow in June (UK) – Veg, Herbs & Tips for Success

Sow: now until early August
Harvest: late August–October

This beautiful Italian chicory adds colour and bitterness to salads and grills brilliantly too. It does best in the second half of the season, when days are still warm but shortening.

How to grow:

  • Sow in modules and transplant to 30cm spacing.
  • Likes fertile, well-drained soil in sun or part shade.
  • Keep well-watered and weed-free.
  • Harvest when heads form and firm up.

How to eat:

  • Grill with balsamic and olive oil for BBQ side dishes.
  • Shred raw into salads with feta and walnuts.
  • Roast in wedges with thyme and honey.

🛒 Italian Heirloom Radicchio Seeds
Add a splash of bitter-sweet flavour and vibrant colour to late-season meals.

🧺 Final Thoughts on Crops to Plant Now for Late Summer

Don’t let the season pass you by — there’s still time to sow something now and eat well into late summer. With quick, rewarding crops like pak choi, dwarf beans and radicchio, you can fill gaps in your beds and keep the harvest rolling.

Pair them with tomatoes, herbs, courgettes and chillies for abundant, late-season feasts — fresh from your own plot.

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