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July In Your Patch
Winter Winners in the Garden
A novice gardener friend of mine was commenting recently how much she hated winter. "Oh" I said, "me too!". "I can't wear my bikini and thongs to work, spend entire days in the pool, or drink a slab of beer to remain hydrated!" I lamented.
I assumed, of course, that we both felt the same. How wrong I was! She replied that she disliked winter because she couldn't garden. Couldn't garden! Winter is a magic time in the garden, because there is so much to do, and my neighbours don't stare at me in my bikini! So, let's have a look at the month of July, zone by zone, to encourage you off the couch and into the garden!
Warm Areas
Frost free or occasional light frosts (North from about Coffs Harbour and all the way across to the west to Geraldton)
Plant out some tasty winter treats, like Chinese cabbage, rocket, silverbeet, mizuna and tatsoi.
In warmer areas pop in beans, sweet corn, leek, pumpkins, tomato and watermelon.
Whack in some coriander, chamomile and nasturtiums in the herb patch.
Green manure crops (like mung beans) are good to go now... improve that dormant vegie patch!
Many ornamental and fruit trees are keen to get in the ground now. Try figs, pistachios, bare-rooted roses and vines (non-invasive of course!!)
Pruning and weeding is a top job to do at this time of year.
Top up mulch on your vegie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds. Choose a sustainable, low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down.
Cool to Cold Areas
Low temperatures for extended periods of time (all of Tasmania, most of Victoria, the southern highlands of NSW and a tiny southern bit of SA)
It's bare rooting time in these areas! Get your deciduous fruit trees in now, including apples, pears, plums, peaches and nectarines. Deciduous exotic trees can also be planted now.
There's not too much happening in the vegie patch, but you could try spinach, sweet peas, broad beans and peas.
Pruning and weeding is a top job to do at this time of year. Deciduous fruit trees love a big old haircut now, except your apricot!
Top up mulch on your vegie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds. Choose a sustainable, low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down.
Green manure crops (like faba beans or field peas) are good to go now... improve that dormant vegie patch!
On really cold days, why not head out to the shed and sharpen, clean, oil and maintain your garden tools. Sounds tedious, but it's really rewarding and will save you cash and plant illness in the long run.
Temperate Zones
Occasional winter frosts (pretty much the rest of Australia, most of the inland, some areas of Victoria, most of SA and the southern area of WA)
There's not too much happening in the vegie patch, but you could try lettuce, celery (in a milk carton), broad beans, Jerusalem artichokes (put them in a pot or they can take over!!), potato, garlic, radish and spinach.
Top up mulch on your vegie patches, herb gardens and ornamental beds. Choose a sustainable, low environmental impact mulch, one that will enrich your soil as it breaks down.
Many ornamental and fruit trees are keen to get in the ground now, so try figs, pistachios, bare-rooted roses and vines (non-invasive of course!!)
Pruning and weeding is a top job to do at this time of year. Deciduous fruit trees love a big old haircut now, except your apricot!
Green manure crops (like faba beans or field peas) are good to go now... improve that dormant vegie patch!
On really cold days, why not head out to the shed, and sharpen, clean, oil and maintain your garden tools. Sounds tedious, but it's really rewarding, and will save you cash and plant illness in the long run.
Of course, this is just a rough guide, and many of you will find your situation varies from the above listing due to microclimates created in your garden, location in relation to your nearest major city, extremes of weather (Mother Nature does like to keep us on our toes) and garden type.
But the one thing that remains the same for all zones and regions is this: no matter the season, we can all garden more sustainably all year round... even if we don't wear bikinis.
Happy gardening, see you next month!
Online Garden Discussion
Want to talk about your garden, share tips, tricks, hints, successes and failures? Why not join our SGA online gardening forum? It's free, it's active, it's informative and it's fun. Click here to get started..
Information source:
Bagnall, Lyn, Easy organic gardening and moon planting, published by Scribe Publications, VIC.
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