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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 needs 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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