1. Good Organic Gardening - January-February 2016

GARDEN DIARY | Late summer
Things to do in
February
Enjoy the bounty of late summer by eating what you can while it’s
fresh and preserving the rest for the cooler months ahead
By Jennifer Stackhouse
Vegetables
COOL & TEMPERATE
In addition to daily watering, liquid-feed
leafy vegies each week with organic plant
food to keep plants actively growing. Leafy
crops such as lettuce and parsley may bolt
(that is, begin to flower and seed) if allowed
to dry out or become stressed. As hot
days continue, shade crops to prevent sun
damage and allow new plantings to establish.
Seedlings are particularly vulnerable to
sudden hot temperatures or drying winds.
Continue to make the most of the cool of
the morning and evening to tend crops.
Stay on top of pests, diseases and weeds by
inspecting plants daily and taking fast action
when anything damaging is seen. Search for
28-spotted ladybirds and pumpkin beetles
that skeletonise leaves on pumpkins,
zucchini and eggplants — squash adults,
larvae and eggs.
TROPICAL
Regularly remove spent crops or those
badly affected by diseases such as powdery
mildew. Bury diseased and pest-infested
material — don’t put it into compost heaps.
Keep a supply of leafy greens for salads and
stirfries by planting Asian greens, kang kong,
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silverbeet and amaranth, which thrive in the
heat and humidity of summer. Pick small,
tender leaves and edible shoots. Visit a local
farmers’ market to look for new and unusual
crops that grow well at this time of the
year. Also plant cherry tomatoes for an
autumn harvest.
Fruit
COOL & TEMPERATE
In cool areas, watch for a recurrence of pear
and cherry slug, which skeletonises foliage on
pear, cherry and peach trees. Dust with lime,
ash or a certified organic product. In fruit
fly zones, continue to maintain protection
by renewing fly baits and removing infested
fruits (see box). After harvesting summer
crops, remove and store bird exclusion nets
and lightly prune trees. Feed citrus trees
now using a citrus food or organic fertiliser.
Water trees well after applying fertiliser. In dry
areas where water is limited, grey water can
be used to water fruit trees, but don’t store
untreated grey water for longer than 24 hours
and don’t use on leafy vegetable crops.
TROPICAL
Fertilise all citrus trees using an organic
plant food formulated for citrus. Also feed
other productive plants not already fed this
summer, including passionfruit and pawpaw.
Continue to bottle, freeze or dry excess crops
and collect and dispose of spoiled fruits.
Poultry can help clean up fallen fruits and
reduce pest problems, so allow them to free
range around established fruiting plants but
keep them out of the vegie garden unless
you want the entire area cleared.
Compost & soil
COOL & TEMPERATE
If soils have become hard to wet, apply a soilwetting
agent. Once soil is moistened, cover
lightly with a fine layer of compost topped
with a layer of coarse organic mulch. Don’t
mulch too heavily as this can stop moisture
from reaching the soil — a 5cm layer is
sufficient. Use a spade to turn compost
heaps to keep them working efficiently.
TROPICAL
This is the time to improve the moistureholding
ability of your soil by adding
organic mulch such as compost. Dig it
into new areas to prepare for planting
and also add it as surface mulch. Let the
earthworms do the work of turning it into
the soil. Chop up green and woody material
before adding it to the compost to help it
break down faster.
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Kerry Boyne, Shutterstock
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