Go Food Gardening

Food Gardening Guide - Week 4/2012

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.

Food Gardening Guide - Week 2/2012

We've been blessed with good summer rains in large parts of the country. If you've been away for the holidays you will either be amazed at how green and rampant your garden is looking, or you will be a bit disappointed at how neglected it is looking. Irrespective of its current condition, follow the checklist below to get it back into full production.

There is an old Chinese saying that it is the footsteps of the farmer that makes the crops grow. Grab your food gardening diary/journal and spend a few minutes in your food garden observing what needs to be done. First note the general appearance of your crops, and then start looking at detail. Note any pests and tasks such as watering, thinning and weeding that needs to be done.

• Water if needed. Thereafter re-establish your watering routine.
• Clean up the food garden and remove all weeds, dead plants and plants that are past their prime. Start with weeds that are in flower, don't allow them to seed. And don't compost any seed bearing weeds.
• 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. Rather throw them (secretly) in the neighbour's yard. Just kidding.
• There's still some very hot weather up ahead. If at all possible use the weeds and crops you remove as a mulch around the remaining crops. Or use the lawn clippings as a mulch. Especially in the pathways.
• The rain might have leached out the more water soluble nutrients such as nitrogen. If this is the case some crops may show light green or even yellow leaves. Fertilize them with a good quality, water soluble, organic fertilizer. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation.
• Stake and tie up plants such as tomatoes and runner beans. Check your chilli peppers and sweet peppers as well, especially those heavy with fruit.
• Harvest crops for storing such as potatoes and sweet potatoes. The best days for this according to the moon calendar are Tuesday to Friday.
• Prune herbs to tidy them up and get them back into shape.
• Repot any herbs that are getting too big for their containers.
• Sow successions of flowering, fruiting and root crops. Saturday and Sunday are the best days for this.
• Last chance to sow artichokes on Monday, Saturday or Sunday.
• Remember to keep your weekly food gardening diary up to date.