Lots of lettuces from Catt's Green Gully garden.....
Still winter, but the sign of flowering wattles (and even broad beans?) is a harbinger of longer days and greater warmth. Think about planting spuds and continuing with leafy greens: kale is an under-rated delight in our part of the world and lettuces grow through the coldest times. Compost (don’t forget our workshop on the 22nd) and think about feeding your soil this month, in preparation for Spring and Summer plantings.
| August 2010 | |
| What to Plant, When:Guide for temperate areas in SE Australia | Leaf Days: 1-2; 9-11; 17-19; 27-29 bok choi, cabbage, kale, celery, endive, kale, mibuna, mizuna, orach, rocket, tat soi, lettuce, mustard, silverbeet, chard, spinach, chives, garlic chives, coriander, dill, parsley, rhubarb, clover
Fruit Days: 2-4; 11-13; 19-22; 29-31 Broad beans, mustard, peas, snopeas, strawberries, berries Root Days: 4-6; 13-15; 22-24; Asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke, beetroot, carrots, bunching onion, kohlrabi, onion, parsnip, radish, spring onion, shallot, potatoes Flower Days: 6-9; 13-17; 24-27 Broccoli, borage, globe artichoke |
| Other Dates to note:Moon Descending
Moon Ascending Full /New Moon Nodes*: Perigee***: Apogee***: |
1 – 7; 19 – 31
7 – 19 25/10 8, 20 11 25 |
| Garden Tasks:Apply soil food
Apply foliar food Mulch Transplant seedlings, plants, cuttings and prune Graft |
1 – 2; 4-6; 22-24; 27 – 29
9-11; 15 – 19; Anytime, but straw mulch can accentuate frosts 4 – 6; 22 – 11-13 |
Dates are a guide for these particular crops. Timing will vary from region to region (particularly with climate change) and even within a garden’s own microclimates. Of course, rainfall, weather conditions and your own schedule will influence when you garden.
# Broccoli can be grown year round, apart from the hottest months. I prefer to plant through the colder months to avoid having the broccoli forming heads when the cabbage moth butterfly is active, in late spring and summer.
* Each month there are a couple of ‘node days’ when the sun and moon are in opposition. Many biodynamic gardeners choose not to plant on these days, or at least a couple of hours either side of the node.
** Perigee is the point where the moon is closest to the earth, so the influence of the moon is strongest. Apogee is the furthest point from the earth, so the opposite occurs.
- lunar perigee (on the left) and apogee (right) viewed from the earth
