Watch out for leaf miner in your
citrus trees. Recent new growth
is susceptible to this burrowing
caterpillar. Spray every two –
three weeks with a pest spray or
white oil to control the problem.
• Citrus is flowering, so don’t let
them dry out until the fruits are
set, as dry soil will make them
drop their developing fruits.
• Grape vines will be growing and
bunches of grapes forming, so
keep up the water to ensure
plump juicy fruits. If birds are
a problem, cover the whole vine
with netting or the bunches with
individual pest exclusion bags.
Green Harvest has a good range
(greenharvest.com.au)
• Prune your poinsettias by two
thirds to promote strong growth
for next autumn.
• Plant seed or seedlings for
Christmas dinner, especially
colourful, leafy lettuces like
red mignonette, butter beans,
golden button squash and
cherry tomatoes.
• Vines – flowering or fruiting –
will be growing quickly, so keep
training them so that they grow
where you want them to (not the
other way around).
• The warmer weather is perfect
for planting tropical fruit trees,
such as babaco, longan and
tamarillo.
• Flowering kangaroo paws may
need stacking to support them if
feeding birds make them bend.
• Renew your herb garden with
fresh basil, oregano, marjoram,
rosemary and thyme. Try
something different like curry
leaf, galangal ginger or turmeric.
Don’t think about coriander, as
it will just bolt to seed before
you know it.
• Tidy up your pawpaw tree by
removing any fungal diseased
leaves or fruits. This will help the
developing fruits stay healthy as
they ripen. You may wish to treat
them with a preventative
copper-based fungicide spray.
Vegetables: Plant asparagus, silverbeet, capsicum, pumpkin, choko, zucchini, shallots, cucumber, beans, eggplant, lettuce, okra, radish, spring onion, tomato, sweet corn and sweet potato.
Flowers: Plant alyssum, amaranthus, torenia, bedding begonia, gomphrena, cosmos, gerbera, marigold, gazania, petunia, coleus, portulaca, carnation, salvia, zinnia, aster, celosia, sunflower, impatiens, calendula, californian poppy, chrysanthemum, dianthus, gaillardia, gloxinia, phlox and snapdragon.
