At this time of year, the North / South divide is at its most obvious. Tasks that can be done in the sunny North, won’t be possible for a few weeks or more down in the South. For the best results, take the time to understand your climate.
Prepare the vege garden for spring crops. Dig in green crops, adding lime which will aid breakdown and give the lime time to react with the soil before adding other fertilisers in spring. Use gypsum if the soil is heavy clay. Add organic matter by way of leaf mould or compost.
Feed winter brassica crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts) which are heavy feeders, with a general garden or vegetable fertiliser.
Protect winter brassica crops from caterpillars, aphids and fungal disease with Success Ultra + Enspray 99 + Free Flo Copper.
Protect vege seedlings from slugs and snails with slug and snail bait.
Sow seeds in seed trays in a warm light location- seeds sown now will develop into seedlings ready to plant into the ground mid spring. - spinach, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, silver beet.
Broad beans and peas are easy care cold weather crops. Sow seed directly into prepared soil. Provide some support with stakes and twine as they do get quite tall.
In warmer regions, sow seeds of carrots and radish directly into garden soil, and plant seedlings of silver beet, spinach, spring onions, cabbage, cauliflower,broccoli and lettuce.
Replenish the herb garden with fresh seedlings – parsley, thyme, chives, sage,mint oregano – to name a few. Prepare the soil with quality compost, blood & bone or sheep pellets.
Potatoes will always be one of the best value vege crops. From a 1kg bag of seed, expect to harvest up to 20kg of delicious potatoes. Early seed potatoes can be sprouted in trays (chitting) in a light (not direct sun) cool place, allowing the sprouts to form. Remove all but 3 or 4 of the strongest sprouts when planting. Egg cartons make great chitting trays. In warmer regions free from frost, early potatoes can be planted.
Plant asparagus into free draining garden beds prepared with quality compost and blood & bone.
Plant new rhubarb plants and lift and divide any established rhubarb clumps. Rhubarb plants are heavy feeders so dig in plenty of quality compost, and sheep pellets at planting time and follow up with a general garden fertiliser at regular intervals through the year.
Plant new citrus trees and small fruits including raspberries and blueberries, into free- draining soil enriched with quality compost, using a slow-release food as a base fertiliser.
Protect citrus trees from aphids, scale and sooty mould with a combination spray of Bioneem and Enspray 99 oil which will smother the pests and their eggs.
Plant strawberries into free-draining soil enriched with quality compost and blood & bone. Getting them in early will yield more fruit and they will fruit earlier. When they start to grow, liquid feed with a plant food for fruiting. Five plants per person will supply the family at each harvest.
Feed newly planted and established fruit trees, small fruits and ornamental trees and shrubs with general garden fertiliser. Add a layer of mulch around the drip line and up to but not against the trunk of the tree.
At the first signs of green tips and flower buds on stone fruit trees (peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and apricots) spray for leaf curl, and bladder plum disease. Use FreeFlo Copper every two to three weeks until the blossoms have faded and the leaves have unfurled, for best control.
Protect against brown rot that destroys peaches, nectarines and sometimes apricots and plums, just as they ripen–the only fix for this is preventative spraying early spring. Use Fungus Fighter or the new biological organic spray Botry-Zen, spraying once in full bloom, and once at shuck fall (when the remains of the flower drop off the developing young fruit–usually 1-2 weeks following petal fall).
Sow seeds of your favourite spring and summer flowers in seed trays with seed raising mix. Cold sensitive plants such as marigolds, impatiens and petunias can be sown now in a warm sheltered environment.
Plant seedlings of your favourite early spring flowers such as pansies, violas, cineraria, poppy and cornflower. Liquid feed with a plant food for flowers for quick results and plenty of blooms.
Plant lilies, gladioli, dahlia and begonia bulbs. Prepare the planting site with quality compost and blood & bone. Gladioli will flower approximately 90 to 100 days after planting, so you can accurately time your display.
Lift and split summer flowering perennials and hostas. Replant into freshly dug soil enriched with quality compost, sheep pellets and a handful of slow-release fertiliser.
Plant new roses with quality planting mix , a slow-release fertiliser and sheep pellets. Watering with Root Gro after planting will stimulate the plant’s root development and help it to establish quickly.
Plant daphne and boronia for fragrance, azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons for winter and spring colour. When planting, use quality planting mix and a slow-release fertiliser for the best start.
This is the last month to prune your roses. Remove all diseased wood, excessive growth and any shoots thinner than a pencil. On old bushes, prune away very old stems and scrub the crown with a wire brush. This removes any flaky bark where insect eggs and fungal spores can hide, and will stimulate fresh new shoots. On the same day as pruning, spray the bush, crown and surrounding soil with a mixture of FreeFlo Copper + Enspray 99 mineral oil for control of fungal disease and insects.
Moss can be a problem in poorly drained or shady areas of lawn. Improve lawn drainage by spiking the area thoroughly with a fork, and apply sulphate of iron (10g per square metre) to kill moss.
