PHOTO: HEATHER CARSTON
I THINK it’s safe to say summer has malfunctioned to the point of no return.
For many of us that’s meant flower gardens have been decimated by the unexpected rains of the weekend just gone, fruit trees have ended up for many with rotting fruit and vegetables… well, it’s back to the drawing board.
As we come into the last month of summer, it’s a good time to be looking ahead as to what the autumn months will bring in terms of harvest.
I’d like to say another yield of potatoes is possible, but if the rain continues, it’s not going to be a good one.
All the same, if you haven’t got a late crop of fast-producing potatoes like Rocket in, this week would be a good time if you have room in your garden.
Some are paying $30 for a 10kg bag – weather being blamed – and as they are always more expensive in the winter, trying to have a store of your own when you can is a good idea.
Just remember when doing so, separate them, keep them in a dark, cool and dry place. Potatoes will go green in the light and when they do, they are poisonous to eat.
So this week is the last possible time, because the first frost will be too late.
For all that, the weather is good for brassicas – it’s too wet for the white butterfly and this time of year is good for bringing the young seedlings on.
This is particularly true for cabbage and cauliflower, although rain can make broccoli bolt.
If you haven’t tried kohlrabi, now is a good time to do that.
These bulbous members of the same family are very sweet to eat – I julienne them finely and pop them into a coleslaw, but there are quite a few ways you can eat them.
Remember to use Derris Dust and slug bait on your brassicas (the former when it is dry) – an infestation of insects and slugs/snails is expected this year as the warm, wet weather continues.
For flower gardens, there isn’t much you can do other than that remove damaged foliage and trim back broken or diseased stems or branches.
Deadhead roses and other flowering plants that need it and stop feeding any of the bulb plants which should now be showing signs of yellowing leaves as they prepare to die off.
Other than that, it’s simply a case of waiting the weather out until the next set of fine days.
