We are now in the final month of Winter. August is a fabulous month as the signs of spring begin to come to life before us. The landscape begins to glow with the gold of wattles in flower. Spring flowering bulbs are pushing their way through the cool winter soil and the trees that have been enjoying a winter rest are showing signs of exploding into new life and colour.
There is much to achieve during this month for the season of abundance that is just around the corner.

Winter is a great time to plant Broad beans, Certified potato seed, Asparagus,Shallots, Oca tubers, Spinach, Spring onion, Cabbage,Rhubarb, Radish and Kale and sow Asian Brassicas, Peas , Snowpea, Turnip, Onion and Swede seed. Kale is especially good when grown through winter and flavour improves when harvested after a frost. Kale is packed with nutritional benefits and a great cabbage or spinach substitute. One of winters super foods!

Peas are best sown directly into the garden from seed (rather than seedling) Peas love a soil which has been limed and enriched with organic matter (they often fail to grow in acid soils) Dig your trench about 30-40 cm deep then top up with our pre-made veggie mix, add a few handfuls of blood and bone along with a generous application of lime. Peas require loose and airy soil that drains well and really need a full sun position (6-8 hours of direct sunlight everyday)  so be sure to choose an appropriate location or create a raised garden bed for extra drainage.

As the shortest day has passed it is the perfect time to sow onion seed or plant seedlings. Choose a sunny well drained position which has been generously limed.  If sowing onions from seed I find it beneficial to ensure good viable, fresh seed is used and not old seed from the previous year. Add a little washed river sand or propagation sand, allowing the seed to be more evenly distributed and gently dribble the seed into the drill.  Germination is quick and will only take 3-4 weeks.

• Plants which have overwintered in the ground can now be lifted and split, tidied up and replanted into freshly dug soil.
• Add compost and manure to garden beds to prepare for spring growth.
• A dressing of lime can also be added now, especially in vegetable gardens. This gives the lime time to react before adding other fertiliser in the spring.
• Do not apply lime to acid-loving plants such as camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons and daphnes. As these plants finish flowering, fertilise with a fertiliser suitable for plants that love acid soils.
• New season citrus has just arrived 
• Time to plant Calla lilly , Lillium and Dahlia tubers
• New season Blueberries are now available
• If you haven’t completed your rose pruning, it is not too late but try to have it done as soon as possible this month.
• Now is a good time to prepare ground for sowing new lawns in September. Remove any perennial weeds, dig over and level ground, removing stones, roots, and other debris.
• Continue to apply a good liquid plant food weekly to winter flowering annuals to ensure a wonderful finale to their seasonal display.