Week 4 (23 January to 29 January) is going to be a very busy week in my food garden. Moon planting conditions are ideal for bed preparation and sowing leaf crops, so I want to use the opportunity to clear out non-productive plants and get the last of the summer successions in the soil.
My activity checklist follows below. I've also included some general gardening activities for your convenience. Use this checklist to inspire your own gardening activities. Remember that my garden is situated on the north-eastern side of Pretoria, so you may have to adjust some activities to suit your garden. If you want to understand the thinking behind these checklists, and get descriptions of the activities invest in the Go Food Gardening e-Class or 1-Day Workshop.
Weather permitting, and where possible, I try to garden by the moon. The days indicated with some activities are therefore the best moon gardening days.
Planning Activities
- Adjust sowing quantities and bed allocations on crop planning worksheet for succession sowings of beetroot, carrots and bush beans, and for first sowing of turnips; as well as for leafy salad crops.
Digging
- Prepare beds for planting using 'subsequent bed preparation' technique. Best days: Monday to Friday.
Planting Activities
- Sow successions of beetroot, carrots and bush beans. First sowing of turnips.
- Sow brassicas: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale. Best days: Wednesday - Friday.
- First sowing of leaf lettuce to be harvested as baby leaves. Best days: Wednesday - Friday.
- Plant chilli peppers. Best days: Saturday - Sunday.
- Rogue out all disease bearing plants, especially cucurbits that show signs of mildew infestation. Do the same with plants, like beans and cabbages, that have very high aphid populations. Don't compost diseased material, and don't use it as a mulch.
Growing Activities
- Do daily observations. First note the general appearance of crops, and then start looking at detail. Note any pests and tasks such as watering, thinning and weeding that needs to be done.
- Water daily if needed. Best days: Wednesday - Friday.
- Weeds can become troublesome in January as it is at the height of their growing season. Start with weeds that are in flower, don't allow them to seed. And don't compost any seed bearing weeds. Don't let up your guard.
- Trim plants where needed to increase their growth. Best days: Saturday - Sunday.
- Fertilize. Check condition of heavy feeders and fertilize them if needed with a good quality, water soluble, organic fertilizer. Best days: Wednesday - Friday.
- Pest and Diseases. Check for aphids, red spider mite and mildew.
Harvesting Activities
- Daily Needs. Harvest daily for the table as needed.
Dear Didi,Reading all this good information, I am most definitely going to prepare the veggie garden thoroughly! We are planning a raised bed, approximately 5 bricks high, so there is much to do. I think a good load of topsoil will be beneficial and we can incorporate compost[if necessary]. It would be good to give you a feed back regarding our success. Remember "you reap what you sow" in more ways than one! It is always delightful to see how what you have planted is growing, it really gives inspiration to the soul. It is as though you prove to yourself that you can also be "successful". I am very pleased I am incorporated with the "growers" so here is to good gardening to all. Have a great weekend and all the best. Regards.
Posted by: Elize Buchanan | January 20, 2012 at 08:17 AM