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  4. December

Your Monthly Planting Guide

December

Summer days and holidays …

The transition from late spring to early summer is often blurred. It’s not unusual for some parts of the country to have already experienced extreme heat well, before the official start of the new season. We know summer is really here when the hydrangeas are covered in big, blousy heads of blooms! This month, it’s all about making sure the garden is looking good.

Pink and purple hydrangeas

 

The hard yards put in over spring should now be paying dividends with the lawn lush and green, veggie patch producing tasty fresh crops, fruit trees showing evidence of luscious fruits ahead and the flower garden bursting with colour. At least, that’s the dream! Sometimes circumstances conspire against us, and there’s a last-minute rush to get chores done in time for the festive season and following holidays.

 

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    Gardening in December

    • Vegetables
    • Fruit & Citrus
    • Flowers & Bulbs
    • Indoor Plants
    • Lawn Care
    • Plants, Trees & Shrubs
    How to grow chillies

    Chilli

    It seems that most people now have at least 1 or 2 Chilli plants at home – it’s become incredibly trendy. Find out how...

    Read more
    How to grow potatoes

    Potatoes

    Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are tubers that grow and form at the plant’s roots. Plants also produce flowering shoots...

    Read more
    Cucumbers

    Cucumbers

    Delicious in salads and sandwiches, the crisp, sweet crunch of a cucumber is one of the joys of summer. Growing...

    Read more
    how to grow spring onions

    Spring Onion

    Spring onions (also known as green shallots and green bunching or salad onions) are a delicious addition to a whole...

    Read more
    How to grow tomatoes

    Tomatoes

    Nothing beats the taste of your own home-grown tomatoes, freshly picked and warm from the Summer sun. Slice them into a...

    Read more
    how to grow peas

    Peas

    Nothing beats home-grown peas for their tenderness and taste. That's because when they are picked, their sugars start to...

    Read more
    How to grow onions

    Onions

    The basis of so many delicious dishes, onions (Allium cepa) are an essential ingredient in every cook’s store cupboard...

    Read more
    How to grow garlic

    Garlic

    Growing Garlic (Allium sativum) at home is now very popular. It's an easy vegetable to grow - just plant a Garlic clove...

    Read more
    how to grow courgettes

    Zucchini

    Zucchini are now a common, summer staple in the vegetable garden. They are relatively easy to grow and they can be eaten...

    Read more
    Caring for Runner Beans

    Runner beans

    Runner beans, or more correctly scarlet runner beans, (Phaseolus coccineus) are among the easiest and most rewarding...

    Read more
    growing salad leaves

    Salad leaves

    Bags of salad leaves are quite expensive to buy and have a fairly short lifespan in the fridge. Grow your own and you...

    Read more
    How to grow pumpkins

    Pumpkins

    Delicious in pies, soups and stews and full of vitamins and minerals, pumpkins are a tasty autumn and winter treat...

    Read more
    growing sweetcorn

    Sweet Corn

    Sweet Corn, or maize, won't really grow as high as an elephant's eye, but it will be sweet, tender and delicious -...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for asparagus

    Asparagus

    Asparagus is a classic spring vegetable worth establishing in your garden. You’ll need to wait 2 years from planting...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for cauliflower

    Cauliflower

    Drizzled with olive oil and baked whole or sliced into steaks, cut into individual florets and wok-tossed in a stir fry...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for broccoli

    Broccoli

    Broccoli is a must have in every home veggie patch - it’s productive, nutritious and very easy to grow. Although it’s...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for rhubarb

    Rhubarb

    Rhubarbs edible stalks grow from a central crown and this popular vegetable is most commonly eaten as a sweet! Once...

    Read more
    How to grow blueberries

    Blueberries

    Eaten fresh, baked in muffins or as the star attraction in jams or desserts, blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are...

    Read more
    how to grow strawberries

    Strawberries

    Who doesn’t love strawberries? If you’re a strawberry fan, the many varieties of Fragaria × ananassa are easy to grow at...

    Read more
    How to grow raspberries

    Raspberries

    What could be better than a bowl of sweet, fresh-picked raspberries in summer? These delicious fruits are easy to grow...

    Read more
    How to grow & care for cherry trees

    Cherries

    Homegrown cherries are sweet, juicy and delicious. Many varieties will be dripping with ready to pick cherries around...

    Read more
    Growing orchids

    Orchids

    Orchids are a great addition to any home, with their exotic, delicate and diverse flowers and their beautiful shapes and...

    Read more
    How to grow sunflowers

    Sunflowers

    If you want to grow something spectacular, plant sunflowers. They come in a whole range of sizes from dwarf to giant and...

    Read more
    How to grow Allium

    Allium

    Alliums belong to the same family as onions, garlic and leeks, as you can tell from the aroma when you crush the foliage...

    Read more
    How to grow roses

    Roses

    Roses are among our favourite garden plants – and deservedly so. They are versatile, produce vibrant colour through...

    Read more
    how to grow sweet peas

    Sweet peas

    The sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an incredibly popular flowering climbing plant that produces masses of flowers from...

    Read more
    How to Grow Fiddle Leaf Figs

    Fiddle Leaf Figs

    With their lush, upright stature and huge, glossy leaves, the Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is one of the most popular...

    Read more
    Peace Lily

    Peace Lily

    With their dark green foliage and pure white flowers, Peace Lilies are a stunning addition indoors. Being just as...

    Read more
    How to grow Monstera

    Monstera

    Monstera are one of the most recognisable and beloved indoor plants to grow and care for. Several species of Monstera...

    Read more
    Philodendron Plant

    Philodendron

    There’s a reason why Philodendrons make such great indoor plants… well several actually! They look good, aren’t fussy...

    Read more
    How To Grow & Care For Buffalo Lawn

    Buffalo Grass

    A popular stalwart in Australian gardens for good reason, buffalo grass makes for an incredibly resilient lawn. It is...

    Read more
    How To Grow & Care For Kikuyu Lawn

    Kikuyu Grass

    Kikuya grass, or Pennisetum Clandestinum, is a vigorous plant often used in Australian lawns and common in public...

    Read more

    Vegetables

    What to harvest now:

    Many of the veggies planted or sown in through spring may start cropping during the month, some earlier than others. Pick what you need daily and rinse in clean water to remove dirt and dust before eating. Beans, lettuce, tomatoes, beetroot, spring onions, snap peas, silver beet and sweet corn all taste better fresh from the garden.

    Three fresh tomatoes on the vine
     
    What to plant now:

    Seedlings of summer favourites and Asian greens may still be planted now into well prepared and fertilised soil. Add a long-term or slow release fertiliser and mix through the soil then moisten well a few days before planting.

    Advanced tomato seedlings can still go in provided they are given some protection from scorching sun until they are established. Staggering the plantings over many weeks will provide continuous cropping throughout summer. Check your local garden centre to see what other veggies are on offer.

    Plant seedlings of the following:   
    • Asian greens
    • Beetroot
    • Lettuce
    • Silver beet
    • Spring/Green onion
    • Tomato
    Veggie patch tips for December:
    • Use a liquid fertiliser for vegetables and herbs such as Osmocote Boost+Feed Vegetables, Tomatoes & Herbs or a certified organic fertiliser to keep veggies growing well.
    • Check the ties on bush tomatoes to ensure they are not too tight.
    • Train climbing crops like peas and beans up tripods or trellising to keep plants up off the ground.

    Peas up a tripods keeping off the ground

     

    • Hand pull or hoe out weeds as they appear – they compete for nutrients and moisture and may also harbour pests that could attack your crops. 
    • Water early in the day direct on to the soil – avoid wetting leaves because this could encourage diseases.
    • Build a shade cloth or bird netting cover over the entire veggie patch to prevent birds or possums eating the produce before it’s ripe enough to pick. Use a mesh size of 5mm or less to prevent birds and animals being caught in it.

    Fruit

    What fruits to harvest now?

    The first of the stone fruits – cherries – ripen early in December. The first box into the wholesale markets is usually auctioned off for a handsome sum, donated to charity. Later in the month, apricots will be ripe, followed by early season plums.

    Fresh cherries hanging off a vine

     

    Strawberries and early cropping varieties of raspberries and blackberries all fruit in December, and the first of the passionfruit may turn purple and drop to the ground. Tropical fruits and citrus are still cropping in warmer areas, and honeydew melon, watermelon and cantaloupe are still in season in hot, dry regions.

    What fruit to plant:

    Planting of evergreen and potted deciduous fruit trees is not recommended over summer. Soil and air temperatures are too high and may damage roots and soft growth, from which the plants may never fully recover.

    Flowers

    What flowers to plant:

    Continue planting gladiolus corms every two weeks until mid-December. They usually flower in about 60 days. 

    Beautiful pink flowers
     
    Plant seedlings of the following into pots, tubs or baskets (not into the garden):
    • Bedding begonia
    • Candytuft
    • Carnation
    • Celosia
    • Geum
    • Linaria
    • Nasturtium
    • Petunia
    • Portulaca
    • Salvia
    • Scabiosa
    • Sweet William
    • Verbena
    • Wallflower
    • Zinnia 

    Indoor Plants

     Tips for Indoor Plants:

    • Keep the air around indoor plants humid by regularly misting plants with a water atomiser.
    • Wipe leaves occasionally with a damp cloth to keep them clean.
    • If you are going away over the festive season, water all your potted plants thoroughly a day or so before leaving then move them all to the coolest part of the house. They will survive quite well for a couple of weeks without further water.
    • Feed fortnightly with ready to use Osmocote Pour+Feed Indoor Plants – no mixing required. There are also Pour+Feed products for orchids and cacti.

    Lady spraying her indoor plants

    Lawn

    Maintenance tips for your Lawn:

    Regular mowing will keep existing lawns looking neat. Raise the cutting height to leave the grass longer to protect the crowns and runners of grasses from the sun. This also helps keep the soil and roots cooler. If it doesn’t rain, water the lawn deeply at least once a week (if there are no restrictions in place) early in the morning before sunrise. 

    • Apply a slow release lawn food (Lawn Builder Buffalo, Lawn Builder All Purpose) now to keep the lawn growing well. If your soil is hydrophobic (repels moisture), use Lawn Builder + Wetting Agent.
    • Lawn grubs may be problematic now in warmer areas. Use Lawn Builder + Grub & Insect to control them.

    Two children running under a sprinkler

     

    • If you have a broadleaf weed problem, buffalo and lawn substitutes can be treated and fed with Lawn Builder Buffalo Weed, Feed & Green Up, a hose-on product that can be safely used on all lawn types. 
    • Watch for bindii spreading through lawns and get on top of any incursions quickly with Lawn Builder Bindii, Clover & Broadleaf, a ready-to-use, hose-on lawn weeder that’s safe to use on all grasses.

    Garden Tasks

    Things to look out for and do during the month:

    Summer is all about mulching – add a layer about 100mm deep of pea straw, lucerne or sugarcane mulch over garden beds, including the vegetable patch, to keep the soil cool, moist and weed-free.

    Three red roses in a garden bed

     

    • Keep flowering annuals, vegetables and herbs growing well with regular applications of Osmocote Boost+Feed All Plant Types.
    • Continue regularly trimming evergreen trees and shrubs to keep them neat.
    • Apply fungicide sprays on fruit trees to combat fungal diseases like brown rot and freckle until fruits are almost ripe. DO NOT spray within two weeks of harvest.
    • Spring bulbs that have completely died down may be lifted now. Leave them on the grass to dry off for a day or so before gently brushing off loose soil. Then spread them out in a single layer on a wire or plastic mesh tray and store in a cool, airy and dry place until autumn.
    • Buy a couple of pots of brilliant red poinsettias a week or two before Christmas. There’s nothing quite like them to bring a real festive air to your home.
    • Take down hanging baskets on hot, windy days and move them as well as outdoor pots to a shady, sheltered spot where they won’t get burned to a crisp.

     

      Pest Control:

      • Slugs and snails can be active whenever there are young plants around – Defender Snail & Slug Pellets in a bait trap will protect your plants and keep your pets safe.
      • Watch for aphids and other sap-sucking pests like thrips on young plants and flowers. Defender Pyrethrum Insect Spray will control them. Don’t forget to spray the undersides of leaves as well as the top surface.
      • Check for powdery mildew on roses and other plants including pumpkins and zucchinis, especially when nights are warm and humid. Use a copper-based fungicide to control them.

       

       

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