Max Lindegger of Ecological Solutions has kindly agreed for Permaculture Noosa to post his newsletters on our site:
The Garden in June
we know only too well that every mm of rain is precious in late Autumn and Winter as tank and dam water levels slowly go down. Good water management is essential at all times. A few windy days, an odd day with above average temperatures and some plants show stress very quickly.
We are experiencing well above average day-time temperatures again. No sign of frost here at Crystal Waters so far and good soil moisture – and maybe more rain in coming days ??
This is the month with the shortest days – not enough time to do all the tasks we would like to do before and after work.
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Growth will be slow this time of the year.
Luckily most of the snails have gone underground or wherever snails go when it is getting cooler and dryer but the Cabbage Moth can still be a pain. Watch them on Broccoli – the edible part – as they can disfigure a head in no time. Brassica’s seem to be their favourite food but you may also find them on Silver Beet and other plants. Aphids maybe troublesome if we have a warm and moist period but otherwise mid winter is a time when insects are not a big issue.
Enjoy the gardening time while everything seems to be going well.
The Beans are still doing OK if you are living in a frost free area but it is also time to start picking Peas. It works nicely: the cucumbers finish and the same trellis can be used for Peas. You may pick the first of the Broccoli before the middle of June and the Cauliflower is about a month behind. An embarrassment of Tatsoi and other Asian Greens. Home grown Carrots are so superior to shop purchased but there never seem to be enough of them. Actually the same is true of Radishes too. And English Spinach, and….
The Strawberries have started to flower and the first red Berries will be ready any day now…make sure you have them protected from birds and frost. And maybe snails and slugs too.
Just a reminder: Give your Broccoli and Cauliflowers a dose of Sulphate of Potash. We eat the flowers on these plants. Too much Nitrogen and you will get all leaf and no flower ( or fruit). The same applies to Tomatoes ( if it is warm enough to grow them)
This is the time for Broad Beans in the Sub Tropics. They do like a cool spot but full sun. Give them some protection from wind. Maybe a stake in each corner with some twine across so that the plants are not blown over. Broad Beans will not do well in warm winters. If the conditions are favourable you will get a lot of flowers. This is the time to pinch out the top to encourage pod set. We have planted ” Aquadulce ” in the past – and it has done well here and does not grow to tall. They will take some time to flower. Be patient. Often the fruiting starts just when you can plant other Beans
When you plant Red Onions ( they grow really well here) you don’t have to separate them from the cluster they are in ( Pat and John sell them as a “cell” with a few onions in each) Of course if you feel like it there is no harm in carefully teasing them apart. Traditionally seedlings where placed in a groove and left laying down. I don’t know why but this is the way it has been done for a hundred or more years. I know that they still grow if they are left standing up. If you do separate them you will average about 4 per cell.
This year have a look for seedlings of Chicory. My mother was Italian and these rather bitter vegetable was part of our normal diet. We find them fantastic. The seed is available from Green Harvest and Pat generally has some seedlings
Apropos Onions, Leeks, Chives…( the Allium family) – there is no need to fertilize them at all. In most soils they will be just happy as they are. Keep any weeds away and keep the soil moist – not wet.
About Garlic – please keep them weed free too. They don’t like competition.
If the Potatoes have dried off it is time to harvest them before heavy frost hits them. This time there where very few pests and going into Autumn seems to be much easier to grow them then before Summer. A good time to dig Horse Radish too. Mine died – love to have a piece of root to start again. Of course I’m not the only one with dead Horse Radish and Rhubarb – we are pushing it a little climatically here.
A good time to plant Bok Choy and all the Asian vegetables. They are trouble free this time of the year. All ( Bok Choy, Tatsoi, Pak Choy, Choy Sum…) are fast growing and really easy to cook ( see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWI88o7JzvY). These vegetables should not be missing in any garden, indeed they are small enough to grow in a pot too.
We plant a lot of Cho Sum here. If the plant grows to big you may like to let it grow and flower. Beneficial insects will love them. Large plants also make excellent Chook food.
We do a lot of double planting – two Pak Choy, two at times even four Tat Soi etc per dripper and it works really well in most cases with less space used.
This is maybe not peak salad eating time but what a choice: more than a dozen different Lettuces from the pale green to the ruby read, plus Parsley, Chicory, Rocket, Edible flowers and herbs.
What to plant in June: Bok Choy, Carrots, Radish, Turnips, All kinds of Peas, Beetroot, Broccoli ( last chance for most areas) , Cabbage, Cauliflower ( cold areas) , Celery, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Endive, Rocket, Onions( all types) , Silver Beet, English Spinach, Tatsoi, Pak Choy, Mibuna, Mizuna, Choy SumLeeks, Parsley, Chicory, Radicchio, Kale, Broad Beans.
This News sheet is put together to help people new to the area to learn ” what grows and when”. Feel free to pass it on.
Trudi and I got some prizes at the Maleny show again and 3 of our honey’s one a first as did our bees wax. Chuffed to see our grand-daughter also having a first prize with a Pumpkin and our daughter a prize for preserves.
Pat and John will have seedlings and we still have some honey ( probably the last for the season) at the Witta market on the 16. June. In June there should be Strawberries for sale. Witta is a Farmers market – the chance to buy all sorts of local produce.
The Thursday before the Witta market Pat sells seedlings at Lot 59 at Crystal Waters between 2 and 4 pm – it is an opportunity for locals to come and buy seedlings and not having to travel to the Witta Market.
Good Gardening!
Max and Trudi
Pat and John
Max Lindegger
59/65 Kilcoy Lane
Conondale QLD 4552
Tel: 07 54944741
email: max@ecologicalsolutions.com.au
EcoLogical Solutions – Consultancy & Education Services
59 Crystal Waters, 65 Kilcoy Lane, Conondale Qld 4552, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5494 4741, Fax: +61 (0)7 5494 4578
Email: office@ecologicalsolutions.com.au
Internet: www.ecologicalsolutions.com.au
I get often asked what the ideal pH was for various vegetables. I have included a list below. In my experience I have found that if you have a soil high in organic matter the pH is less of an issue. Still, for best results it is worthwhile to aim for a level close to the remanded.
Green Harvest sell pH kits and tools suitable for the home gardener. See here http://www.greenharvest.com.au/tools/soil_testing_and_monitoring_prod.html
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Witta market on the 16. September Lots of seedlings available and there will be an early rush!
Next Beekeeping Workshop: 23. September.
Good gardening!
max and Trudi
Pat and John
From: Max Lindegger [mailto:max@ecologicalsolutions.com.au]
Max Lindegger
59/65 Kilcoy Lane
Conondale QLD 4552
Tel: 07 54944741
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