Summer tips for Members

When summer is here it comes a few things to be aware of in our community garden...

Blue tongue Lizards and snakes

• Blue tongue lizards live and roam in the garden, so look before diving your hand into any garden areas. Several water bowls have been placed around the garden for their use so please top them up when you see them empty.
• So far no snakes have been sighted but be alert for the possibility, make a noise and keep your eyes open!

Pests and disease in your patch

• Unfortunately we have tomato blight, red spider mite and pottery mildew popping up in a few areas. Remember we are organic so any sprays need to be carefully selected before use. Please check with someone before spraying.
• Tomato blight all infected leaves should be removed, BAGGED, and put in the green landfill bin. Red spider mites have infected our papinos but they also can go for peppers, tomatoes, capsicum, beans, corn and strawberries. Remove all infected leaves BAG and put in the green landfill bin or use a non chemical option if the infestation is in its early stage.
• Powdery Mildew is common to zucchinis and can spread to rockmelon, grapes and cucumber so nipping it in the but is needed early. Spraying leaves with milk in their younger stage is recommended, never water leaves only the soil, remove infected leaves immediately and put them in the green landfill bin.
• CLEAN ALL GARDEN TOOLS USED WITH DILUTED BLEACH, VINEGAR OR METHYLATED SPIRITS IN A BUCKET THAT CAN BE USED BY OTHERS PLEASE OR WITH A RAG SOAKED IN THE CLEANER. We have vinegar under the sink in the garden.

Seed Collecting

• Please allow one or two of the vegetable crops in the communal garden areas to go to seed.
  
• Don't pull crops out, but instead cut off at soil level and leave the roots in the soil so as not to disturb the micro organisms. Allow a couple of healthy plants to go to flower for the pollinators and to then have seed collected.

Tomato picking in the communal beds
Excited as we are to harvest tomatoes as they begin to colour, please refrain from picking them until they are RED. Vine ripened tomatoes have a better flavour.

Your patch

• ​To project your soil from drying out and heat/UV destroying microbes etc in the top layer, it is recommended that you add mulch to your garden. Your choice; a few suggestions are pea straw, mushroom compost, triple C.
• Mulch should be 2-3inches or 5-8cm thick to be effective. It is also wise not to leave soil uncovered so if you have removed crops and don't plan to plant for a while consider laying cardboard over the soil this will mean less work to prepare the soil when you are ready to plant. Earthworms move around in cool, dark soil.

Watering

• Hand watering is a lovely way to spend time in the garden. Remember the best time is early in the morning.
  
• Always water the soil, not the leaves, and especially on tomatoes, zucchini, melons, cucumbers which are prone to moulds and mildews.
  
• A deep water is required especially for natives so roots do not remain on the surface to dry out but grow deep. Flee the soil before you water, dig your finger down to the first knuckle, into the soil around your veggies etc especially potted plants the surface may look dry (if without mulch) but underneath the soil could be damp.
  
• Water is precious, please don't waste it.

Ants
Ants are active in the garden. They do like dry covered areas. They don't like water and sunlight to nest. My suggestion is put pots up on bricks, pour boiling water into nests that are affecting your patch, and do this often.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions, concerns or comments.
Thanks for keeping the pathways around your patch weed free, keep bricks, stakes and vines free and accessible for all our visitors and fellow members to use safely.
 Happy Gardening from Cheryl