Judy's Garden Calendar December
The December garden has a special role as the setting for outdoor meals and al fresco entertaining.
Flowers to sow in December – Impatiens
There’s nothing like impatiens for providing colour in the shade but, in recent years, impatiens have been badly affected by a fungal disease that has meant seedlings have become very scarce. One answer to this shortage is to grow your own impatiens from seeds (which are available in Yates packet seed range). Sprinkle tiny impatiens seeds onto a shady garden bed, press into the surface and keep moist. Don’t cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate. After the seedlings have established, a monthly spray with Yates systemic fungicide, Anti Rot, will help protect them from disease.
Vegies to sow in December – Squash
Squash is a summer favourite but the old squash that were big on size and low on flavour have been replaced by small varieties like Yates Mixed Sweet ‘n’ Kwik baby squash. These grow easily from seed and can be ready for harvest in a matter of weeks. Baby squash are very versatile: they can be baked whole, sliced into stirfries, lightly cooked and chilled for a salad, or steamed as a side vegetable. And, luckily, the more baby squash you pick, the more the plants will produce.
Feed in December
Feed natives (such as bottlebrush) after flowering with Yates Blood & Bone or Garden Gold for Natives. A light trim to remove dead flowerheads will also help keep plants tidy and promote new growth. If plants are carrying ripe seed heads, shake a few seeds onto garden beds – they may not necessarily germinate, but you’ve nothing to lose and you could end up with some new (free) plants.
Don’t forget to give tomatoes, sweet corn, eggplant and other crop-bearing vegies a follow-up feed with Dynamic Lifter for Tomatoes.
Prune in December
Neaten the outlines of formal plants by trimming spring growth. Have a good look for errant side shoots on standardised plants. These are best rubbed off when young and soft but, if they’re more advanced, can be removed with secateurs. Check for other unwanted suckers sprouting from the rootstocks of roses, passionfruit or other grafted plants.
December pest watch
Be on the lookout for fruit fly around summer fruits and tomatoes. Use Nature’s Way Fruit Fly Control to keep fruit free of grubs.
Grape vines can be attacked by mildew in the summer months. Yates copper-based Fungus Fighter will help control downy mildew, which shows up as downy patches beneath the leaves. Powdery mildew, by contrast, creates white, floury patches on top of the leaves. Control with Mancozeb Plus (the ‘Plus’ is wettable sulfur)
