Grant Douglas's Garden Diary

Week 35: First week of September

Spring is officially here and the rain continues to fall. I've had to resow my Snow Peas, which have rotted even in our sandy soil. They are much more prone to it than ordinary peas and if you're only putting in a small amount, that is the advantage of pre-sowing into punnets where you can control the environment better and then transplant.

If you did do an early planting out of spuds in early August, they will probably be up by now so keep an eye on the frost conditions and cover them if necessary using such things as loose straw over the tops, microclima frostcloth (the woven one) - I've found that by doubling it, the increase in the insulation properties is remarkable, or such things as upturned flower planter pots.

If you bought a small bag of potatoes and only sprouted half of them, you could now sprout the other half. If they have produced long white shoots in the bag, if you gently rub off these shoots, they will begin producing shoots again in the light which will be stubby and green, ideal for planting out.

If you also did an early sowing of Tomatoes, they should be getting ready for planting into bags or greenhouse soil, but remember that even though they are in a greenhouse, they may need extra protection at night by covering them with frost cloth. At the moment I am putting three layers of cloth over all my Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Basil seedlings in my unheated greenhouse. Preferably keep the cloth off the plants by using cloche frames or, for individual Tomato plants, 4 short sticks placed around each plant. Don't forget to plant the Tomatoes deep so they will produce extra roots to increase their vigour.

Sowing or Planting this week:
Tomatoes, Peppers, Chillie's, Egg Plant (for Greenhouse or early sheltered Outside)
Basil (for Greenhouse or Windowsill)
Beetroot - possibly too early for direct sowing but can be sown in containers for planting out shortly.
Broad Beans (I am trying a new variety for me this year called Imperial Green, where the beans stay green, even after cooking) Standard Variety - Exhibition Longpod - Getting quite late.
Brocolli Spouting (Marathon Variety - sow now in punnets)
Cabbage (Spring or Summer varieties - sow now in punnets)
Cauliflower (Frieda - Summer variety - sow now in punnets)
Garlic (Getting fairly late)
Lettuce (Loose-leaf Fancy and Hearting (Webbs or Greatlakes) - outside now, or in containers.)
Onions (for early areas)
Peas (I choose Easy-peasy variety)
Potatoes (for those in warm areas get a second succession sprouting, for those in colders area, get your first sowing sprouting)
Red Onions
Shallots
Silverbeet and Perpetual Spinach - these may go to seed in late Spring but will give you a small harvest if you are low on these veges in your garden
Snow Peas (Snap Peas)
Spinach (winter varieties eg. Hybrid No.7) - outside in warm areas, in punnets in colder areas

Sow Direct: (In colder areas, under a cloche - protect soil surface from heavy rains)
Carrots (In warmer areas only - I find Topweight a good early variety)
Chinese Greens (Warmer areas)
Corn Salad
Corriander/Dill (Marginal)
Mescalin Mix
Rocket
Radish

Happy Gardening. This week I'll sign off the way the Country Life Team did on the radio on Saturday with "Keep the gumboots close and stay positive".

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