The birds are noisier, the days are getting longer and nursery men and woman all over Melbourne are getting up earlier and getting home later. Football may have level pegging with gardening at the moment, but pretty soon it will be over and done with and gardening once again will be the most performed outdoor activity. So take a deep breath, sharpen up the shears and head out into the final frontier – your garden. (at this point of the article a fanfare of trumpets would have been good, so maybe just try and imagine some).
Plants will start to grow now, so they will need a feed. Remember to water a plant before feeding it, as feeding a dry plant can cause it harm. There are many types of fertilisers, so it is worth having a look at some:
Manure: If you use fresh manure,
you need to make sure it is well aged as otherwise the levels of ammonium
can be toxic. You can buy it in bags, or even in bags of pellets like
Dynamic Lifter. These manures are perfect for digging in new garden
beds or the vegie patch. I like chicken manure but don’t apply too
much of it if planting young seedlings as it can burn the roots. We
have a product called Organic Life which is chicken manure mixed with
added fish meal, blood and bone, and seaweed - an awesome mix.
Controlled Release: Eg Osmocote.
These products gradually release little bits of fertiliser every time
you water your plants. They sometimes release at a higher rate when
the temperatures get warmer. Where they are beneficial is if you are
growing in pots, because pots need constant feeding. They are also good
for those of us who don’t spend much time in the garden.
Liquid Feeds: Eg Phostrogen. These powders or liquids can be dissolved in water and give your plants a fast acting result. If you have any plants with yellowing leaves, liquid feeding every 2 weeks for a couple of months will soon green them up. I find it especially useful for greening up yuccas, and flower and vegetable seedlings. Spring flowering bulbs would also appreciate it.
Of course your compost and worm castings are also full of goodness and are ideal to dig in to garden beds, and best of all, are free !
Last month to plant seed potatoes, so get them in while they are about. Our seed potatoes are certified as virus free so you will have the best chance of a trouble free bumper harvest. I know someone who stores their harvested spuds in a big wooden box between layers of sand. They almost get enough for the whole year! Check for the best keeping varieties.
Almost all vegies can be planted now except it is still a little too early for chillies, capsicums, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, and basil. They need warm soils to grow. Raking the soil on a sunny day will help warm up the soil well as increase the oxygen levels in the soil.
Two new plants to look out for are Bali Stripe mondo grass which has striped leaves of cream and green, and a helebore called Ivory Prince, which provides winter/spring ivory white flowers that fade to a musky pink and then age to green. Looks and sounds delicious!
Flowers to plant this month: Dahlias, Marigolds, Petunias, Daisies, Snapdragons, Lobelia. Mulch well to reduce evaporation.
Foodcrops: Asian Greens, Asparagus, Beetroot, Broad beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Coriander, Lettuce, Leek, Parsnip, Onions, Potatoes, Rhubarb, Radish, Silverbeet, Strawberries, Shallots, Snowpeas. Tomato.
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