I can feel the sun on my back that’s telling me springs not that far away.   Your garden should be ready for planting now but if you haven’t done this you still have time to prepare it. Dig in plenty of South-Hort Compost this will add much needed nutrient and organic material.  Don’t forget to add some Blood and Bone to the Compost.  South –Hort Blood and Bone is a natural source of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Calcium.  Apply at about 300grams or six handfuls per square metre and dig into the top 10 centimeters of soil.  Remember if your soil is heavy adding Gypsum will help break down that clay base.  Plant out those Cabbage, Broccoli, and Cauliflower plants.

Now is the time to start sowing your tomatoes into trays.  These can be left in a sunny position on the windowsill or in the potting shed for planting out later when it’s warmer.  I have purchased a small freestanding greenhouse from my local Bunnings store and have started to raise my seeds in it. You do have to be mindful where you place it, as the heat inside can build to 40 degrees Celsius.  I tend to leave the front open so that it maintains a constant 20 degrees during the day and still put it back in the shed at night.

If you haven’t already sown your Broard Beans it can be done now.  Sow these directly into the ground and remember to back fill with South-Hort Seed Raising Mix.  I also like to sow some extras into trays for transplanted later if a few in the garden should fail to germinate.

Broard Beans are underrated as a vegetable. They are sweet and tender when picked early and are great added to salads or just bought to the boil and served.  Give them a go I think you will be impressed.  Now is the time to sow your Cabbage, Celery, Silverbeet, Spinach, and Onions into trays for transplanting later.  South-Hort Seed Raising Mix is manufactured especially for this purpose and contains Tricho Protection giving your plants a much better chance of survival.

Your fruit trees are starting to swell and bud burst is not that far away.  You will need to spray them with Copper; this will help to control Leaf Curl and Bladder Plum.  Dwarf fruit trees are becoming very popular and these can be grown on smaller sites as well as in containers.  South-Hort Pot and Tub mix is ideal for container growing.  This mix contains an Osmocote 8-9mth fertiliser as well as wetting agents and water holding crystals.  It is based on South-Horts commercial potting mixes and can be purchased by the 40ltr bag as well as by the trailer load.  Always remember that good gardening starts with the soil.