Welcome to March and the beginning of Autumn! As we hope to soak up some Autumn rain, the warmth of the baking summer sun is retained in the soil, thanks to the natural mulch of the falling Autumn leaves. Milder temperatures and more reliable rainfall makes Autumn gardening a joy. Autumn is a wonderful time to get busy in the veggie garden.
Now is the perfect time to plant, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, leeks, lettuce, cabbage, wombok, silverbeet, winter spinach and refresh the herb garden. Its time to sow carrots, broad beans, radish, parsnip and keep an eye out for our locally grown garlic seed which has just arrived for planting throughout autumn.
If you are growing leeks be sure to put them in a sunny spot in soil that is fertile and well drained. Leeks thrive in traditional garden beds and especially in raised beds. Spacing of your leeks will determine the size of the stems; if you would like nice thick stems then thin your leeks allowing more room for them to grow. For thinner scallion-size leeks, follow tighter spacing, setting seedlings 100mm apart. White-stemmed leeks are the most prized so, when transplanting be sure to plant seedlings at least 10cm deep.
If you’re planning to rest a garden bed over winter, now’s the time to start thinking ahead.
Our specially blended green manure seed mix arrives in a few weeks — the perfect crop to sow in your veggie beds through autumn. As it grows, it improves soil structure, adds organic matter, and boosts natural fertility.Turn it in before spring planting and you’ll have richer, healthier soil ready to power your next season’s crops.
March is about setting the garden up properly before the cooler months settle in. A few simple jobs now make a big difference later.
• Clean up old fruit mummies under fruit trees to reduce the spread of brown rot and fungal disease. Good hygiene now saves headaches later.
• Feed Cymbidium orchids with a high potassium fertiliser (Special K) to encourage strong flower spikes and bigger blooms.
• Deadhead roses regularly to encourage fresh autumn flowers and keep bushes looking tidy.
• Tidy tomato vines by removing excess growth around the base. Improving airflow reduces humidity and lowers the risk of fungal disease as the weather cools.
• Watch for cabbage white butterfly in the veggie patch. Check under leaves for eggs and treat early. Diatomaceous earth or Dipel are excellent chem-free options that work beautifully when applied correctly.
• Fertilise lawns with Sudden Impact for Lawns to help rejuvenate tired turf before winter.
• Feed citrus and monitor for scale and sooty mould. Eco-oil or Yates Scale Gun can help manage infestations.
• Prune back roses lightly for an abundant autumn show.
• Sow sweet peas now — St Patrick’s Day is the traditional planting time. Choose a sunny spot with good drainage and add dolomite lime if your soil is acidic.
