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- I know that a few weeks ago I promised an ‘arm-chair month’ in June, but
it’s only just June and there’re still too many things to do in the garden, so
next week, maybe.
- Asparagus need to be lifted and divided if you have some. Discard any with red berries
on them, as they are female plants and not as productive as the males. Also if you are
without asparagus and no one should be, since they are one of our best locally grown
vegetables, easily grown and they love our soil, keep your eyes out for crowns at your
local nursery or garden centre over the next four weeks.
- If transplanting asparagus dig a deep trench, a spade wide, but two spades depth and
fill two thirds with compost and top it with chicken manure or organic pellets. Then add a
5cm layer of sharp sand, lie the asparagus ‘octopus’ crowns into the trench and
backfill with the lightest media you have. The very best is compost mixed with sharp sand.
Makes harvesting the spears easier.
- Next task is rhubarb. It looses its vigour at this time of year and is easily dug up and
divided. Don’t split the crowns into sections smaller than a pair of clenched fists
and err on the side of a truckers pair of fists! Prepare the trench much the same as for
asparagus, but only one spade’s depth. Also backfill with organic pellets, not
chicken manure, as it will burn the leaves. If you use chicken manure, make a brew with
five parts water to one part chicken manure. Dust the cuts with sulphur.
- Keep digging out those "Soursobs" or if you are from the eastern states,
"Sour Grass" or if you’re a Kiwi, then "Bermuda Buttercup" or
they will surreptitiously take over your lower root run of the surrounding plants. The use
of glyphosate on them is a waste of time, just as it is on "Stinging Nettles".
Chip both off with a hoe and make silage. You just need a large plastic bin from the
supermarket, half fill with water, throw the weeds in and a few handfuls of chicken
manure. Replace the lid to keep the smell at bay. Two months latter the liquid is a useful
nutrient for the garden.
- Plant Beetroot, Chinese Cabbage, Endive, Leeks, Brown Onions, Peas, Rocket, Parsley and
some more Lettuce in the vegetable garden from seed or seedlings.
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