The January Garden
Thu, 5 Jan 2012
What a difference some rain makes!
The dry November ended and December started very cool and with some welcome showers. The BOM website predicts above average rain for the summer followed by an autumn and winter with average rain. We shall see. The prediction is that the summer will not be very hot. The start to 2012 has so far not been too hot. Pretty great gardening weather which even the Lettuce likes.
Keep up with the Nitrogen part of the fertilizer input during spells of wet as Nitrogen is the most mobile element and easily washed out. I have found that a weekly application of a complete fertilizer is well worth the money. So far it has kept the Cucumbers in lots of leaf (and fruit). We use "Organic Xtra", available at WLS, but a regular application of any composted animal manure or good compost will do the trick. Add extra Sulphate of Potash (a small handful per plant) to Tomatoes, Capsicum and Eggplants.
Mulch thickly as this will stop any erosion. Mulch also keeps soil moisture more moderate during hot weather but the mulch can increase snail numbers in our warm and moist summers.
Garden beds you are not using during the summer should be very heavily mulched a good product is the organic sugar cane mulch for vege garden beds and a bark mulch for fruit trees. (Garden beds are available in all shapes and sizes at WLS so pop in and see!) The moist and warm conditions will help mulch to break down. It is all food for worms. They in turn will make sure that the soil will be friable and fertile when autumn rocks around and you plant your autumn veges. It will pay to plan ahead.
Wishing all a great time in the garden and a productive and pest free 2012
ARMP#1077