March Growers' Guide
As Summer slowly relinquishes its hold on the landscape, the transition to autumn begins its subtle dance. The scorching heat of the sun mellows as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. The once vibrant greens take on hints of amber and crimson. The dandelion flowers close up and it is time to harvest their roots.
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Flowers
Flower seeds to sow now
Alyssum, Billy Buttons, Calendula, Cornflowers, Delphinium, Echinacea, Everlasting Daisy, Hollyhock, Lupins, Mignonette, Poppy, Pyrethrum, Sweet peas, Tansy, Viola
Veggies & Herbs
Seeds to sow now
Amaranth, Artichoke, Beetroot, Bok Choy, Carrot, Celery, Chervil, Chives, Chinese broccoli, Coriander, Dill, Endive, Fennel, Garlic, Garlic chives, Kale, Leek, Lemon balm, Lettuce, Mizuna, Mustards, Onions, Pak Choy, Parsley, Peas, Peppermint, Radish, Rocket, Sage, Salsify, Silverbeet, Sorrel, Spinach, Spring Onion, Swede, Thyme, Turnip
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Seedlings to transplant now
Asparagus, Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Leek, Lettuce, Rhubarb, Silverbeet
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Try to have your garlic planted before the equinox.
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Fruits
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Keep watering regularly - especially citrus.
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Mulching your fruit trees is important for water retention in the soil.
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Use seaweed solution or similar weekly to help keep your tree strong and cope with the heat. Spraying in the late evening is usually a good idea.
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Order your bare rooted fruit trees if you have not yet already.
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Cut out citrus tree water shoots.
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Finalise all your summer fruit tree pruning for tree maintenance.
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After your last raspberry harvest, remove old canes.
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Use supports to hold up heavy bearing raspberry canes.
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Check for and remove dropped citrus to stop fruit fly.
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Thin citrus as the fruit develops to stop branches breaking.
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Remove any mummified fruit and fallen fruit from stone fruit trees.
Soil, Tasks and Tools
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Ensure your worm farm is somewhere warm for the winter
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Keep your veggies mulched
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Decide if you want to plant a green manure over winter - lablab, cow pea, millet etc
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Clean up fruit fly traps for next season
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Tidy up nets as required
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Wash fruit bags and dry for next season
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Repair irrigation systems, consider adding timers where possible
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Sharpen pruning tools after summer pruning
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Clean saws and other blade tools
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Harvest, Preserve
& Seed Save
Harvesting
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beans, berries, lettuce, silverbeet and citrus fruit as they ripen, radishes, spring onions, mustards, spinach, squashes, tomatoes, herbs
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Seed saving
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Peas and snow peas, beans, rocket, radishes, broccoli, silverbeet, artichokes,
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