In pod we trust
Sow broad beans without delay. Like peas, they don’t like the heat of summer.
Cauliflower, cabbage and silverbeet may also be sown in seed trays under cover (a sheet of glass or thick plastic is adequate in all but the coldest places), ready for planting in the garden in spring.
Plant strawberries and rhubarb if the soil is not too wet.
Order vegetable seeds and start sowing in seed trays under glass for a head start on spring, which is officially – if not climatically – less than a month away.
Dig compost into the garden. And if you have green manure growing, dig it in ASAP so it can break down by the time the new season’s crops go in. Definitely, do not let it go to seed.
Edibles
Container spuds
Potatoes are easily grown in containers for those lacking space – oh the joy of your own Jersey Bennes at Christmas, or even spring before they come on the market.
Yields are usually considerably lower in containers – by up to a half – so just plant accordingly.
Almost any container (bucket, rubbish bin) is suitable, as long as it has enough drainage holes – overwatering is about the only biggest disadvantage of container growing. The soil needs to be kept moist but not wet, otherwise the tubers will rot.
Early growing varieties, such as Rocket or Swift, are best for containers as their foliage is more compact, and they are quicker to mature.
Do not attempt to crowd in potatoes; one seed potato per 10 litres of soil is enough. Half fill the Broad beans do best before the summer heat kicks in. Get them sown now.
container with soil, add the potato and cover with at least 20cm more soil.
While plants need full sun, the soil in containers can overheat so to keep roots cool, place the pots behind something. Consider sowing annuals over where bulbs are growing. The annuals will be germinating and quite small while the bulb is flowering, then will come into their own once the bulb is spent.
Plant gladioli, dahlia and begonia tubers for summer flowering.
All roses may be pruned now except for banksias and climbers, which should be done in summer after the first flush of flowering.
Use sharp secateurs and a pruning saw to remove crossing-over, spindly, weak, diseased or dead branches, and any thinner than a pencil.
Cuts are usually made at a 45-degree angle to encourage water to run off rather than soak in to the plant. Cut remaining branches to about four outward-facing buds.
Ornamentals