Judy's Garden Calendar March
Autumn’s here at last. Let’s hope this sees the return of gentler gardening weather.
Vegies to sow in March
Peas of all sorts can be sown in March. Yates pea seed range has dwarf Greenfeast and Earlicrop Massey, and the climbing Telephone. Don’t forget, too, climbing Sugarsnap and Snowpeas. Both are delicious, either cooked or raw.
Flowers to sow in March
Delphiniums are renowned for their tall spikes studded with single or double blooms. They’re often most appreciated in a vase, but they’re equally at home making a statement in the garden. Sow Yates Delphinium Pacific Giants into pots or seed trays and transplant the seedlings when they’re a good size to handle.
Feed in March
Early March is the perfect time to feed everything in the garden, especially in those areas where heavy summer rains have leached the goodness out of the soil. Dynamic Lifter Advanced is available in a range of variations for fruit trees, lawns and roses – all plants with specially high nutrient requirements. It’s best to stick to the gentle, original Dynamic Lifter organic pellets when feeding the general shrubbery or preparing new vegetable and flower beds.
March pest watch
Hibiscus and their relatives (such as abutilons) are troubled by a number of pests. One of the worst is the hibiscus flower beetle that chews holes in petals and eats pollen. Then, once the pollen has gone the flowers drop prematurely. Control hibiscus flower beetle with Confidor. Treat other insect pests with Yates Rose Gun Advanced, which combines an insecticide, a miticide and a fungicide.
Prune in March
Trim dead sections out of grey-leafed plants such as lavender and wormwood. At the same time, lightly prune the outside of the clump (don’t cut into bare wood). Spread some lime around the base of each plant.
March job file
Pick and dry the last of the basil before it’s spoilt by the cold nights. Or, rather than drying, paint both sides of the leaves with olive oil, wrap in plastic and freeze. Neither method will give you basil that tastes as good as it does fresh, but you’ll have at least some of that distinctive flavour to add to winter dishes. Harvest ripe pumpkins and leave them out to harden their skins in the sun.
Plant of the month – Frangipani
Frangipanis are late starters every year and it seems they never come into full flower until summer’s over. But, in the warm days of early autumn, they perfume the air with that delicious, tropical fragrance. Watch out for the new frangipani rust that causes yellow pustules to form on the undersides of the leaves. Remove and bin badly affected leaves. Spray with Rose Shield or Yates Rose Gun Advanced.
