The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 6 Spring 2013 | Page 21

The veggie patch In the veggie garden THE WARM WEATHER IS HERE! ROSES ARE BLOOMING, CICADAS ARE TRILLING AND EVERYTHING THAT HAS WATER IS GROWING. IT IS TIME TO PLANT ALL THE FROST SENSITIVE PLANTS AND ECONOMISE ON THAT PRECIOUS WATER. MULCH, MULCH, MULCH – YOU HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE! Lettuces of all types can still be grown in summer. They all tend to get bitter in the heat, due to a build-up of latex type sap. The iceberg or heading types may well bolt (flower) in October. Bolting resistant types are available but are seldom stocked by nurseries, as they are very expensive. Customers frequently comment at my nursery that “It’s too late to plant cabbages, cauliflower and broccoli, isn’t it?” No, provided that you use hybrid seedlings, these brassicas can be grown year-round. Be warned that the broccoli head (it’s a flower) will mature very fast in the summer heat. In just three days, it can go from almost ready to showing the yellow flowers. It is still fine to eat of course but it doesn’t look quite right. If your cauliflower heads are exposed to the sun, they can get burnt, so tie the leaves over them for protection. It is tomato and capsicum (pepper) season of course. You will need to spray against late blight and maybe early blight depending on the cultivar. Staking is an advantage at this time of year, especially once the rains start, as it allows the plants to dry quicker and reduces resulting in disease problems. Brassicas will be attacked by aphids and diamond-back moth larvae at this time of year so you will need to spray if you want a crop. Confidor® (active ingredient imadacloprid) will work, as will daily doses of soapy water. Your onion crop will be maturing in September or October. Once the leaves start falling over, reduce watering to just once a week. When 50per cent of them have fallen over, the crop is mature. Stop watering them and knock the remaining leaves over to help them seal the bulbs. The crop can be left in the ground until the leaves have dried or they can be lifted now and left to dry in the sun. When storing, it is essential to choose a cool, shady, dry place to either hang the onions in bunches, or in orange pockets. Do not allow them to get wet in the rain. Sow maize and sweet corn for green consumption now. Sweet corn matures quicker than maize - in about 80 to 90 days. Don’t sow maize first because if it is allowed to pollinate sweet corn, it will override the sweet genes and you will get sweet looking corn that tastes just like maize! All the squashes, melons and other cucurbits can be grown now too. Space them 40 to 50cm apart and watch out for powdery mildew. this spring By Andy Roberts September, October & November Direct sow beans, cucurbits, maize, sweet corn. Use nurserygrown seedlings for cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, Swiss chard, celery, rape, tomatoes, brinjal and sweet potato. Emerald seedlings offers a wide range of vegetable seedlings. Emerald Seedlings, Alpes Rd, Teviotdale Vegetable seedlings office 0772 326 446 [email protected] 21