SUMMER
Your Gardening Guide for February
COOL REGION
SUMMER
Your Gardening Guide for February
COOL REGION
Welcome to February!
As the end of summer approaches, the gardens are busy flowering and fruiting. Now is the perfect time to be harvesting your summer crops. By doing so, your plants will thrive with more energy to produce more produce that will help extend your harvest long into the season.
February Top Tips
#1 Pruning
Summer pruning of fruit trees helps shape them and stimulates the growth of new branches that will go dormant in winter, then produce next summer’s fruit.
#2 Watering
Water crops early in the day and directly on to the soil. The water will penetrate the soil in the early hours and, by avoiding wetting the foliage, the likelihood of fungal disease is reduced.
#3 Harvesting
This is a time of harvest so keep picking. This allows the plants to put energy into growth and producing more so your harvest season will be extended.
#4 Maintenance
Keep the weeds in check in the vegetable garden. They will compete for nutrients, moisture and space and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops.
October Essentials
Get some hot tips and tricks for garden success this October, from pricking out, to seed saving rules as well as planting edible tubers.
Watch nowDiggers top pest tips
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is a common fungus that affects a wide variety of plants. Identified as light grey or white powdery spots usually found on infected leaves but can also be found on stems, flowers, fruit or vegetables.
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Blossom end rot
Blossom end rot commonly affects tomatoes at this time of year. The fruit has sunken and blackened patches at the blossom end of the fruit. Apply lime or gypsum to amend clay soils, keep the soil evenly moist and work on improving soil structure with compost additions as required.
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Green veg bug
Green stink bugs can cause damage to crops by feeding on fruits, vegetables, and other plant parts. The feeding process involves injecting digestive enzymes into the plant, causing the tissues to break down and become accessible for the insect to feed on.
Learn moreDiggers recommends
Diggers top garden ideas
Sow a green manure crop
Sow a green manure crop to add some life and love to an overworked patch: sow cow pea, mung bean, soy bean and milllet to improve your soils .
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Lawn alternatives
Consider lawn alternatives, as lawns can look a little sad at this time of year. Groundcovering may replace lawns or a different surface
Learn morePlants to plant now
Plant basil early in the month to provide a crop through the autumn. Basil comes in purple, thai and lemon flavored and the old favorite, sweet basic.
Plant nasturtium, verbena and marigolds to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. They also add beauty and scent.
Plant leeks, capsicum, chillies, cabbage, silverbeet, lettuce, sweet corn, cauliflower, broccoli and tomatoes towards the end of the month.
Get ready for March
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