THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Seasonal Food July
What is the seasonal food of July? What are the farmers and growers currently harvesting for our plates?
(Please note there are a few adverts on this page – why? Because we like the companies, they produce great food, and we want to encourage you to support their work – fuelling your body with the best food you can is important. As they say, it is better to pay the greengrocer than the doctor!)
Some pretty delicious stuff actually – this is the best of the British season and if it is locally grown and organic, you will hardly need to cook it (yesterday, from Riverford Organic, we got broad beans. They are already gone!)
Vegetables in season in July…
Samphire (get in quick with this one!)
Globe artichokes
Broad Beans
New Potatoes
Asparagus (though not for much longer! And the taste is so different to last month during the first week of harvesting…)
Wet garlic
Spinach
Runner beans
Nettles (use the young leaves, not the older ones… so cut a patch down if you have to and wait for them to resprout)
Lettuce
Radish
Elderflower (for champagne or cordial, of course)
Carrots
Cucumbers
French beans
Sugarsnap peas
Watercress
A number of herbs (for example basil, fennel and mint… don’t be mean when you cook, use a big handful!)
Fruit in season in July…
Gooseberries
Cherries
Blackcurrants
Redcurrants
Raspberries
Strawberries (for Wimbledon. Raspberries are just as good though!)
We hope you grow at least some vegetables, herbs or fruit in your garden (or on your balcony, or wherever…)
If we could recommend one plant to start with? Rosemary. It looks after itself, smells amazing and you can harvest it for cooking with or using in flower arrangements. Perfect.
For more on how to eat seasonably (and the taste benefits are enormous) you need to read these…
Start of the Whitby Topiary Library
I have been offered a space here in the centre of Whitby, south-facing aspect, with some raised beds in, so that I can make a Topiary Library. In my head, a topiary library is a place to showcase the common (and then not so common) shapes you can make out of topiary. With classical topiary plants, as well as some more unusual pieces. This Topiary Library can act as a reference for people to learn more about pruning and clipping. The space is small but the aspect is great and the beds are deep enough to put some plants in. …
Delivery After Dark – From the Makers of The Amelia Project
Last week I spent most nights stood in cold water streams on the moors of North Yorkshire, helping to film a new project called Delivery After Dark from the makers of the Amelia Project. I worked on the Amelia Project back at the end of 2024, lending my terrible vocal talents to a small part in the episode Didius Julianus. But this project is something new – and exciting! – and thankfully only needed me to be filmed, rather than to actually say anything. But not only did I have to stand in cold moving water at midnight, I also …
Modern Topiary (The Book) – Message From Lady Clippers, And Others!
My topiary book – Modern Topiary – has recently been put out as a PDF, which can be read for free. (Have a look here to download and read/share it!) Then last week I received a lovely email from Ann Perkowski of Lady Clippers, who are topiary and pruning specialists in New York (Ann is a brilliant pruning teacher too, who teaches at New York Botanical Garden… check out her work and Lady Clippers website.) Hi Darren, I had to write you how much I love reading your Modern Topiary. I’m not sure I’ll ever be quite done with it because I’m …