Calendar

My garden journal

2017…

• Overview: Landscaping project in back yard has meant large delays to planting and reduced crops for this year.
• Currently harvesting: Zucchini, Some tomatoes (2 red varieties diseased – treating new growth with Kocide), Perpetual spinach, Silverveet, Cucumbers a few raspberries
• Other notes: Cucumber & rocket ready to pick in next few weeks, Have planted disease resistant purple tomato seedling and spraying with Kocide as a preventative

2016…

• Overview: Still picking lots of cucumbers daily from first planting but foliage now showing signs of decline. 2nd cucumber planting has first cucumbers forming. Mature bronze orange bugs flying in from neighbours cumquot tree (can see them from my yard) which I am spraying as I see them.
• 3rd: Sprayed all cucurbits with bicarb soda mix at  rate of 1tsp per litre of water to manage powdery mildew that has started. Sown: beets, zucchini, corriander, parsley.

2015…

• Overview: Tigerella, watermelon and rockmelon succumbed to unknown disease (suspected downy mildew) after heavy rains. Tomato produced very well. Rockmelon produced only small melons with less sweetness that last year. Watermelons tasted like shop watermelon and although edible would have been better in on the vine for a little longer. Next year plant melon on hills and look for disease resistant cultivars.

My garden journal

2016…

Overview: Still producing: Zucchini, rocket, yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, eggplant, some beans, raspberries, coriander and parsley. 2nd cucumber planted succumbed to unknown disease.

•    Neighbours cumquot tree (source of bronze orange bug on my citrus) has been cut down :-)

2015…

Overview: Everything is coming to the end of its productiveness. Garden is still producing enough herbs, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green beans and lettuce for the family but with no surplus. Other crops have finished. Capsicum producing poorly. Start preparing finished beds for autumn.

• 1st: Bio-mustard sown in beds 2 (prev. Tigerella tomato), 3 (prev. French Charentais rockmelon,) 4 (prev. Blacktail mountain watermelon), 5 (amongst still growing zucchini). Have covered beds 2, 3 and 4 as the hot days were making them will. Cut and dig through as a short season green manure at 6 weeks or as needed, most likely in mid March. Follow with a successive crops of peas in bed 2 and 3 (early-mid April) and garlic in bed 4.
• 13th: Spinach and coriander sown, parsley seedling transplanted. Follow up: All sprouted and performing well.
• 18th: Cut back and feed (blood and bone) older Marketmore cucumber and Yellow Currant tomatoes to see if it extends productivity. New growth starting from base of tomato plant.
• 25th: Biomustard sown in bed 6 (prev. Yellow Currant tomato, eggplant and capsicum). This bed will hold 2nd and 3rd crops of peas. Clover sown under espaliered citrus trees.

My garden journal

2016…

Overview: Still producing: Zucchini, rocket, yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, eggplant, some beans, raspberries, coriander and parsley. 2nd cucumber planted succumbed to unknown disease.

• Silverbeet seed sown and sprouted, protected from snails.
• Shelling peas (Massey) and beetroot seeds sown.
• Rockmelon harvested.
• 15th: Planted leek seedlings x 12.
• 28th: Plant garlic cloves x  64 cloves. Note: Last years harvest (planted 34 bulbs) only lasted 6 months once planting stock was removed.
• 28th: Started harvesting mangoes.

2015…

Overview: Original zucchini and cucumber still producing, but only just. The 2^nd cucumber (planted in front garden beds) showing first flowers. Mustard growing well and

• 1st: Sandy (our dog) found the lure of applied Blood and Bone fertiliser too temping and broke through my garden fence. Have now build a higher, more rigid fence. Cut back zucchini to one section and mustard sown in its place.
• 2nd: Bed 1 – Beans cut down and left on bed as mulch. Shelling peas (Green Feast) sown.
• 15th: Bed 2 & 3 – Dig through mustard cover crop and water. keep well watered until rotted down.
• 26th: Erect wire mesh along pool fence as a permanent trellis for climbing plants including. peas, beans, cucumbers, melons etc. Below pool fence level, .7mm mesh was used to prevent mice accessing garden from properties behind us. 12mm mesh has been installed higher up along pool fence. Note: To meet Government regulations apertures must be no greater than 13mm.
• 27th: Cut back raspberry canes that have finished producing to improve air circulation to remaining canes.
• 27th: Dig through cover crop (mustard and left over chilli bush) in B4. Add compost to B2 and B3 in preparation for peas.

My garden journal

2016…

Overview: Beans, basil, parsley, spring onions still going. Mangos hung on tree to late April. Zucchinis kept producing until mid April.

2015…

Overview: Extremely heavy rains and winds and hail over April. Floods and cyclonic winds down east coat of Australia.

• 1st: Sown in bed 2 – Shelling peas (poor germination-see note 13/4/15), beetroot and clover.
• 1st: Sown in bed 3 – Sugar snap peas, carrots and clover. Patchy sugar snap pea germination possibly due to heavy rain.
• 2nd: Sown in bed 4 – Clover and garlic cloves (30 cloves) – garlic germinated 10 days later.
• 3rd: Mustard cover crop dug through row 1 of bed 6.
• 13th: In bed 2 and 4 (along fence) – Sow snow peas to replace poorly germinated shelling peas.
• 14th: In bed 3 – Resow Sugar Snap pea seeds that did not sprout in mid April.
• 24th: Planted Siberian tomatoes. I am hoping they will fruit late Winter/ early Spring.

My garden journal

2016…

Overview: Temperatures still very warm in early May (around 25C max)

• 6th: Planted more mustard seeds to improve soil.
• 8th: Planted Broadbeans (beds 2 & 3), Shelling peas (bed 5 along trellis). Should germinate in 10 days.
• 9th: Cut back All cane berries and beans.

2015…

Overview: Temperatures around 20C max.

• 3rd: All Siberian tomatoes spouted.
• 7th Sow second lot of shelling peas in bed 6 and cut remaining raspberry canes to ground.
• Fertilised citrus with rose and citrus fertiliser.

Harvest now

Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Herbs, Lettuce, Rocket, Silverbeet, Lemons (Eureka) (Dependent on planting time)

My garden journal

2015…

Overview: Rust noticed on leaves still hanging on to nectarine tree. Not treated until July with lime-Sulphur.

• 7th: Seeds collected from Broad Ripple Yellow Currant tomato. Heat treated for 54C for 30 mins to remove any seed borne diseases.
• 9th: Sow a couple of heat treated Broad Ripple tomato seeds to make sure they will germinate.
• 9th: Starting to harvest baby carrots sown 1/4/15.
• 10th: Starting to harvest 1st sowing of shelling peas sown 2/3/15.
• 11th: Sow baby carrots in bed 5 (3rd sowing). Starting to harvest late September.

My garden journal

2015…

Overview: Mid July: Very cold.

• 20th: Remove any winter grass with seed heads. Spray winter grass herbicide on verge grass.
• 20th: Spray nectarine, ornamental pears and orange tree with lime-sulphur spray (50ml/ltr).
• 20th: Dig through mustard in bed 5.
• 24th: Sow in pots – tomatoes, capsicum and eggplant.
• 30th: Sugar snap and snow peas starting to produce in beds 2 and 3.

Warm season garden preparation

Warm soil with black plastic for late August transplants. Otherwise, wait until September to sow/transplant.

Start indoors now…

All SOLANACEAE (Tomatoes, Capsicum, Chilli, Eggplant) in individual 5cm pots / cells. Plant out once soil has warmed. Re-pot to larger pots if temperatures are not consistently warm. When transplanting, bury to first set of true leaves and stem will grow additional roots.

Note: All will require bottom warmth to germinate quickly. Once germinated, provide good lighting, out of direct sun. Feed weekly with half strength liquid fertiliser or an organic alternative. More information on Sowing seeds indoors.

My garden journal

2015…

Overview: Mixture of warmer and colder days. Most days around 18C. Winter grass still popping up. I am removing this by hand once per week. Plan fruit and vegetable sowings so they don’t need to be picked whilst away at Xmas.

• Early August. All citrus leaf and fruit budding. Thinning as appropriate.
• 7th: Blossoms starting on ornamental pear.
• 7th: Sow zucchini and cucumber. Soil temp approximately 16C which is still a fraction to cold but will see what happens. Might need to resow in a week or so if they don’t germinate. 28/8/15: Didn’t germinate. Resown inside.
• 25th: Blossoms falling from ornamental pear.
• 28th: Dwarf nectarine starting leaf bud.
• 28th: First asparagus ready to pick (now 3 year old), Citrus starting to flower.
• 28th: Most plants showing new growth or starting to take put on new leaves, winter herbs and vegetables growing/producing much faster.

Start indoors now…

All CUCURBITACEAE (Cucumber, Zucchini, Melons, Pumpkins, Squash) in individual 10cm pots. Plant when soil has warmed and seedlings have no more than 4-6 leaves. They do not transplant well, so minimise root disturbance when transplanting. Cucumber can be planted direct when soil temperatures are at 20C. Note: It may be preferable to stagger planting of melons so they don’t all ripen at once. A second planting of cucumber is recommended in December to ensure a continuous crop through to April/May.

Note: All will require bottom warmth to germinate quickly. Once germinated, provide good lighting, out of direct sun. Feed weekly with half strength liquid fertiliser or an organic alternative. More information on Sowing seeds indoors.

My garden journal

2015…

Overview: All peas finished. Warm season seeds/seedlings planted and most sprouted or growing by late September. All winter crops finished. Rocket, lettuce, beetroot, carrot, leek, silverbeet and garlic still growing or producing.

• 1st week of September: Transplanted first zucchini and cucumber seedlings.
• 11th: Rockmelon and corn seeds sown (soil temp still only 19c). Cut back finished peas in bed 1 and 4. Cut clover down to stubs hopefully it wont reshoot, gave everything a good water and checked for water repellent soil. No issues noted.
• 13th: Spray lawns with winter grass herbicide, sow corn seeds, transplant eggplant, start cutting peas back as they finish.
• 21st: Sow 5 beetroot in bed 4 (right side).
• 26th: Nectarine, lemon and orange tree as well as solanace bed fertilised with rose and citrus fertiliser.
• Green vegetables seedlings fertilised with soluble nitrogen based fertiliser.
• Potted berries fertilised with Azalea fertiliser.
• 1st rockmelon seed germinated, eaten by snails. Only a couple of the corn seeds have germinated. Next year, plant at end of September.
• Epsom salts and potash applied to fruit budding berries including youngberries, blackberries and raspberries in driveway. Will feed backyard berries when they bud.
• Plated corn seedlings to replace those that did not germinate
• Late September: Started harvesting baby carrots sown mid June.

My garden journal

Overview: Youngberries starting to form berries, Gross Lissie tomatoes and capsicum forming fruit.

• 17th: Planted celery in part shade
• 27th: Zucchini has started producing
• Applied Power Feed liquid to all annual vegetables
• Bagged nectarines for fruit fly and chewing bugs
• Deadhead sage
• 30th: Harvest garlic
• Start harvesting Broad Ripple Yellow Current tomatoes in ground since last Autumn.