MID-SUMMER TO-DOS
18 Jul 2011
Mid-summer is when we like to relax in our gardens, but there is always work to be done, too. Mind the heat stroke, though
Mid-summer is when we like to relax in our gardens, but there is always work to be done, too. Mind the heat stroke, though Fruit trees The vibrant colours of fruit should start appearing on the trees now, and to help them along some maintenance will be required throughout the growing season to ensure the time and effort you’ve given them doesn’t go to waste. Cool climate: Thin out apples and pears by pruning off smaller and damaged fruit. This will help the remaining fruit tree to develop to its full size, colour and flavour.
Temperate: Watch out for mildew on mango trees. If heavily affected, it can cause leaf and fruit drop. A regular application with bluestone spray will prevent this from happening. Tropical: Thin out new suckers on banana plants to five or six shoots per mat to give better fruit production. Using a sharp knife, cut them off from below the soil when they are about 5cm out of the ground.
Vegetables
As the season moves on, some vegies will be reaching the end of their lifecycle. This means more space in the garden for new varieties to be planted. Waste no time preparing the soil and start sowing your seeds. If high winds are a problem, place your seeding trays in plastic storage containers; these will act as mini-hothouses, keeping the temperature up but the winds out. Remember to remove the lid on days when the temperature
exceed 25˚C. Cool climate: Beetroot, carrots and cucumbers can be seeded straight into the garden while celery, chilli and broccoli should be sown in trays, using good-quality seed-raising mix. Temperate: The season is ripe and ready for parsley, silverbeet and sweet corn, which can be sown straight into the garden after the soil has been composted and allowed to rest for a couple of weeks. Tropical: Sow chives and radish (see page 47) straight into the garden. They should sprout in no time and be ready for picking within three months. Basil, eggplant and capsicum should be sown in trays then planted out after 4–6 weeks.
Watering
Summer heat means plants all around the neighbourhood will be screaming for water. They don’t have voices but they sure can show you how thirsty they are by their posture. A strong, upright stance means a healthy, hydrated plant whereas a droopy, wilting posture means the plant is hot, tired and thirsty. Cool climate: Top up the garden and vegie beds with lots of mulch and spread a fresh layer of pine bark around the base of trees. Take care in keeping the mulch 100mm away from the trunk to avoid collar rot. Temperate Water plants early in the morning to give them enough time to draw up the moisture they need to stay hydrated for a hot day ahead. Place saucers under potted plants and fill them with water. As soil starts to dry out in the pot, moisture will be absorbed through the holes in the bottom of the pots, keeping the plant hydrated. Tropical: Cover your plants with shadecloth to protect them from searing heat. This will help to reduce evaporation and will also protect the foliage from being scorched.
Bugs
It is the season to enjoy but it’s also the season to be wary: insects are out on the prowl in their thousands. Tired, sick plants attract pests and diseases, so it’s important to nurse any unwell plants back to good health to give them a better chance of defending themselves. Cool Climate Control sap-sucking aphids from destroying new growth and flower buds on roses. If there are only a few aphids, use a damp cloth to gently wipe them off the plant — aphids that fall to the ground never make it back up again. Heavy infestation of aphids will require control spraying with Eco-oil or something similar. Temperate Be on the lookout for white fly in your vegie garden, those who have already experienced an invasion by white fly know just how difficult it is to control this pest. They hide in large numbers on the underside of plant foliage. Regular application of organic garlic and chilli oil will certainly help to control them. Tropical Spray plants with garlic oil on a regular basis to control insect attack and use bluestone spray to prevent the development of mildew and other fungi.