SEASONAL NOTES
Summer 2020
Every summer the following applies for our gardens, as they need our assistance to weed, water and mulch before we begin to plant.
Try pest control without chemicals on your plants and vegetables this year if you didn’t bother last year.
Bonsai These dry out easily. Keep in morning sun and afternoon shade. They require watering once or twice a day.
Bulbs Especially tulips and hyacinths, dry them before storing in a cool dry place in the shed.
Camellias and Rhododendrons Must be kept moist as they are forming buds now for their next winter – spring display.
Hydrangeas For sale now at your local nursery.
Roses You’re going to be busy because you need to dead head the old roses and summer prune now. Have you ever tried making your own Potpourri with the nearly full-blown rose petals? For beginners of this lovely craft or for information on ‘How to’ you can contact me through the Royal.
A reminder to feed your Roses in December. Then in January a good mulch should be applied and you must water in well.
Shrubs A few that can be pruned lightly are Azaleas, Bottlebrushes, Clematis, Gardenia, Grevillea, Honeysuckle, Jasmine and Rosemary.
Herbs Bay, Lavender and Rosemary can make beautiful hedges. They need their scented foliage clipped regularly. Plant Thyme, Basil and Oregano in pots close to your kitchen, it is nice to have some ready to add to the cooking when required. Another popular use for excess herbs is making a Tussie Mussie as a gift for a friend. Herbs are also very easy to propagate so pot up a few for Christmas and give a gift of growing herbs to a friend or neighbour.
Vegetables Water regularly and feed weekly with a liquid fertiliser. Worm wee is a splendid fertiliser and costs nothing if you own a worm farm. Every year growing vegetables is becoming more popular and I encourage you to try growing some if you haven’t ventured into this aspect of growing your own vegies.
Listed below are some of my favourite vegetables that I find easy to grow in my small vegie patch.
Beans Dwarf beans can be harvested 8-10 weeks after sowing, climbing and runner beans in 10-12 weeks. Try growing these on a trellis using the air space above your lower vegies.
Carrots A reminder before planting to check the area for small twigs, stones which can impede the growth of the carrots. Sow seeds in 5mm deep and in rows 23 cm apart. Depending on the variety they can be picked 10-16 weeks depending on the variety.
Capsicum can still be planted, they should bear right up to the end of Autumn. They appreciate growing in the warmth.
Pumpkin Seeds can be sown now. Pinch the tips once established. They will be fully matured in 14-20 weeks, you will need a sunny area,
Silverbeet So easy to grow in full sun position to part shade. Harvest the leaves from the outside of the plant as this will encourage some new growth.
Lastly, Tomatoes Require a sunny, well composted garden bed. Apply mulch and feed with a soluble plant food when the fruiting starts to occur. Pinch outside tips and pick tomatoes when firm this will minimise pest damage. They will open up once indoors (do not leave them on a hot sunny window ledge). To keep water up to the plant, recycle a two litre soft drink bottle, make a hole in the lid and insert into the soil on a slant, remembering to cut off the bottom so the bottle can be refilled.
A visit to your local nursery where a huge collection of vegetables is available for you. Good luck with your crops.
FEW TIPS ABOUT COMPOST TROUBLESHOOTING
TOO WET Add shredded newspaper and turn regularly.
NOT HEATING Add some nitrogen e.g. vegie scraps.
SMELL reduce it by keeping compost damp.
TOO DRY Water lightly
TOO HOT If the mixture goes grey and smokes, turn it and spread it out to cool.
Enjoy your gardening
Patricia
