Getting the Winter crop underway?

The second inspiring installment from the VegeTTable talks to get you growing.

Recap: It all starts with the soil and location location location.

• Vegetables grow mainly in the top 6cm of the soil, so it’s up to you as a gardener to make the best soil. Think of your vegie patch as a lawn improvement device.
• Face your garden North to North-east if possible to catch the most rays.
• Start small with a 1m square, it's big enough. Make it easy to access all around the patch.  Once you've got the hang of it expand a bit at a time.
• Tools of the trade include a spade, fork, rake and hose
• Soil preparation is important.Break up the clods, add organic matter, dynamic lifter, blood and bone, dolomite (MgCO3 )
• Mulch is magic. Cover the surface, to reduce evaporation, keep the soil cooler in summer and warmer in winter
• Compost is dug into the garden...it's international compost awareness week soon
• If you don't have enough room for a garden and want to delve into pots as the preferred growing medium styrofoam boxes are very versatile as growing pots. Ceramic/earthenware that are not glazed need to be lined with plastic because they loose water through evaporation. 

Sowing Seeds

• Read the back of the back, we live in a temperate climate and use by dates matter
• For an instant garden lettuce and spinach are great and you can pick the leaves all year round.
• Parsnip seeds only last a year at the most but are quick growers

How to sow?

• Use a rake handle to make a groove, the drill.
• Water the drill and remove any lumps
• Sow the seed, the smaller the seed the shallower the drill and cover over
• Put a stick at either end to remind where you planted
• Thin out when second set of leaves emerge

What to sow in May

• Seed : broad bean, cabbage, cauliflower, onion, pea, spinach
• Seedlings: cabbage, celery, leek, onion, silver beet, spinach,turnip

The VegeTTable group will meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month 10-11am at various gardens around the community to gather ideas, advice and support. Contact Geoff for more information on 4959 3470

Handy Tip- There is a manure selling business at 110 Macquarie Rd Fassifern, about 400m past the train station turnoff. They sell chook, cow and horse manure at very reasonable rates.