Spring is such an exciting time for gardeners, with the weather warming up there is an abundant choice of vegetable and flower seeds to sow and grow for the season ahead.
If you are still trying to decide which crops to grow and how to make the most out of your growing space, then read on below for our article on how to use 'days to maturity' to make the most from your veggie garden this season.
In cold and temperate regions it may still be too cool to plant many summer veggies in the ground outdoors, the usual rule of thumb is to wait until the first week of November to ensure the risk of frost has passed. However with a good soil thermometer, you can get a more accurate temperature reading so that you know when you can start sowing seeds outdoors, without any guesswork! Read on below for our article on how to reliably check your soil temperature.
Seeds to Sow in October: The links below list more seeds that can be sown now in each climate. Click to browse:
▩ Cold Climate: Tasmania, Melbourne, Mt Gambier, Canberra, etc.
▩ Moderate Climate: Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, etc.
▩ Warm Climate: Brisbane, Bundaberg, Carnarvon, etc.
▩ Tropical Climate: Broome, Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, etc.
▩ Not sure which climate? Click here.
Transplanting Seedlings- One of the best methods to reduce transplant shock is to sow seeds directly into biodegradable jiffy pots. Once your seedlings are big enough and ready to be transplanted, just plant the entire plant with pot into the garden bed. This reduces any risk of damage to the plants root system, meaning plants reach maturity more rapidly, as they do not have to re-establish their root systems. If you prefer to plant into reusable plastic pots, then applying a seaweed solution prior to and immediately after transplanting, is a another great way to deal with transplant shock and encourage seedlings to re-establish good strong root systems quickly.
Zucchini- Productive and reliable Zucchini are one of those great go-to vegetables. They are very easy to grow, highly productive, perform well in most climates and are perfect for beginner gardeners. Zucchini are such a versatile kitchen ingredient and a great addition to most vegetable gardens. Why not try growing an old favourite like Zucchini Black Beauty or something slightly different like the Golden Zucchini or Cocozelle varieties? Read our blog post below for a fail-safe guide on how to grow Zucchini successfully.
Pruning- Early spring is a great time to prune shrubs and trees. Remove all the dead, weak, damaged and frost damaged parts of plants to promote healthy new growth. Remember to use a nice sharp pair of secateurs to remove any branches crossing over each other or rubbing on one another. Keep in mind that when it comes to fruit and citrus trees, maintaining an open light canopy will help prevent disease and promote fruit growth.
Netting- Protecting fruit and vegetable crops from pests is important all year round, but most important in spring and early summer when fruit trees are setting fruit and pests are at their most active. One of the best methods to protect your crops is by using insect exclusion netting to help protect crops from birds, possums, cabbage moth and fruit fly. If netting the whole plant or area seems daunting, you can net individual fruit by using fruit protection bags and sleeves.
