With soil warming, it’s time to plant tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers and other summer vegetables for a productive harvest, writes gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.

In the vegetable patch, it’s all systems go for planting tomatoes, zucchinis, capsicums and cucumbers. 

Now that the soil has warmed, root crops can also go in for a summer and autumn harvest.

Snow peas and beans can be planted now, with the trellis or framework they need for climbing installed at the same time.

Where root crops or alliums, such as onions and chives, were grown last season, plant solanaceous vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants and capsicums.

All tomatoes like to be planted deeply into the soil and should be staked at planting time. Water them in well and keep the vines growing strongly. Remove side shoots to encourage stronger vine growth.

Tomatoes benefit from calcium and magnesium in the soil to promote healthy growth and help prevent blossom-end rot. Add a little dolomite lime to the soil before planting.

Capsicums need to grow quickly, with as much heat as possible. They require at least six hours of daylight, plenty of water and acidic soil. Plant them out by mid-November, when the soil is warm, then put in a few more plants every couple of weeks to extend the harvest.

Cucumbers are climbing summer vegetables that can be grown easily in pots, on balconies or in small garden spaces.

Once the flowers produce fruit, pick the cucumbers regularly to encourage further production. If the first fruits are left on the plant, it may stop producing flowers and fruit, completing its growing cycle and dying sooner.

In the orchard, codling moths will be active. Spraying trees with kaolin clay can help prevent moths from damaging fruit or laying eggs on leaves. Hormone traps can also be hung in the trees.

Netting is another option, providing protection from possums, rats and birds. Use the finest mesh available.

Aphids and other insects will be abundant with the fleshy spring growth and good rains we have had recently. Planting flowers in the garden will encourage predatory insects, such as hoverflies and lacewings, which feed on aphids and other pests without the need for spraying.

A BULB that grows particularly well in Canberra, filling spaces beneath large trees or in dry shade, is the Peruvian lily (Scilla peruviana).

Its deep purple, cone-like flowers are a showstopper in any garden. The bulbs will multiply over time if left undisturbed.

Cobalt blue is the most common flower colour, although the white-flowering variety is just as delightful.

Despite its name, it doesn’t come from Peru. It originates from the Mediterranean and grows well in our climate.

The entire plant dies down through summer, reappearing when the weather cools in autumn. In larger gardens, it makes an excellent filler between the end of the spring bulb display and the beginning of summer flowering.

Give the bulbs some fertiliser while they are growing and divide large clumps if flowering begins to decline.

A GOOD ground cover for attracting birds to the garden is Grevillea Royal Mantle. This native plant is ideal for covering large areas, spreading up to six metres wide. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and long-lived.

Its bright red, spidery flowers are produced generously. In a protected position, it can flower almost all year round in our climate.

For a smaller space, Grevillea Bronze Rambler is an excellent choice. It grows to about 1.5 metres wide and looks terrific as a grafted plant or cascading over a wall.

Jottings

• Keep water out for wildlife.
• Tie up berry canes to prevent suckering.
• Plant vegetable seedlings every three weeks. 
• Prune citrus now. 

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

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