Finally, the humidity has left us and we’re in full Autumn swing. This means winter veggie planting and (at last) less grass mowing. I was a bit late growing broccoli, cabbage, kale and other winter greens from seed, so my first plantings in May are from seedling bought at one of our local garden centres.
Don’t forget – it’s the Maleny Show at the end of May – lots to see and do.
- Grass growth will be starting to slow down now but weeds still grow. Keep on top of weeds, especially bindi-eye, clover and tropical chickweed.
- Bare rooted roses will be in stores now but don’t rush in and buy, as the optimum time is the end of next month.
- Gingers and heliconias that have finished flowering – such as parrots beak heliconia – can be cut back now, leaving the new growth for next seasons flowering display.
- Apply a light dusting of lime to bare veggie beds. Don’t apply fertliser at the same time as the lime reacts with the nitrogen creating ammonia gas.
- Plant leafy coriander plants now. The cooler temperatures will stop them bolting to seed.
- Your strawberry plants should be coming on well now. Apply a little pelletised manure and use fish and seaweed solutions regularly over the plants to keep them in good health. It’s not too late to put some in if you haven’t yet.
- It’s an ideal time to work in the garden because the temperature has dropped and so has the humidity. If you’ve got a major building or landscaping project, start it this month (May).
- Dahlias that are dying back should be trimmed off and those that have not yet started to die back can be trimmed to half their height. They’ll need to be lifted out of the ground next month (June).
- Plant new citrus trees this month and next (May and June). Always remove any fruit before planting, or better still select trees without fruit for more vigour. Do not fertilise young trees until 3-4 months after planting.
Vegetables
Plant beetroot, silver beet, broad beans, onions, spring onions, peas, carrot, kohl rabi, lettuce, radish, turnip, capsicum, celery, beans, garlic, leeks, parsnip, peas, potatoes, sweet potato, tomato, broccoli, parsley, cabbage, cauliflower and coriander.
Flowers
Plant alyssum, marigold, petunia, calendula, cineraria, cornflower, dianthus, hollyhock, kale, lobelia, pansy, phlox, Iceland poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, sweet pea (seedling), viola, carnation, cyclamen, foxglove, gaillardia, salvia, sunflower and verbena.
