Home Grown 1/6/11
Leafy Greens
We are very lucky to have such a relatively mild winter here on the Gold Coast and things are still growing well here now albeit a little more slowly.
Some of our favourite Leafy Greens can be too tricky to grow well in the warmer months so take advantage of this cooler time to grow Lettuce, Rocket, Asian Greens and Coriander. You’ll find that they grow and produce for longer, avoiding the sudden ‘bolting’ to seed and in the case of lettuce, avoiding a bitterness that can occur too easily in summer.
Lettuce varieties that perform well this time of year include Cos, and the hearting varieties Iceberg and Yatesdale. Kale, Silverbeet, Radicchio and Endive also prefer the cooler months.
June is the last month good to plant Onions, Broad Beans and Spinach so get them in now either as a first or successive crop to keep you harvesting longer.
I highly recommend Succession Planting as a great way to avoid the feast/famine syndrome in the home vegie garden. You know, when you have to suffer buying say beans at the supermarket for weeks while you wait for your ones in the garden to matures, then all of a sudden, BAM! They all come on and you are freezing them, giving them away and eating beans for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There are still many crops that are good to plant now, but they’re unlikely to take off quite as fast as if they were planted in autumn. These are Beans, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Capsicum, Celery, Garlic, Leeks, Onions and Potatoes.
Marika Whitfield Dip.Hort.
Marika runs regular vegie garden classes on the Gold Coast.
For inquiries call 5539 1110 or email info@thevegiegarden.com.au
