Vege gardens should be looking great by now, but how do you keep them in tip-top condition over summer? Provided they were planted in well-prepared soil, the most important thing is to keep plants healthy and growing. This involves consistent watering, regular liquid feeding and being vigilant about pests and disease. Healthy, strong plants have a better chance of surviving insect or disease attacks and will deliver exactly what you’re hoping for – a fantastic crop of fresh veges!
TooAToES
Consistent watering is a must. Lack of moisture causes uneven-sized, split fruit, while over-watering may cause plants to collapse. Feed flowering plants weekly with a high-potash liquid fertiliser. Continue throughout the season and apply slow-release fertiliser after Christmas. If training plants as a single stem on a stake, remember to remove the side shoots.
Large bushes need an arrangement of bamboo stakes to help support branches, especially once fruit forms. Watch for aphids, thrips, whiteflies and caterpillars.
LETTUCE
Salad greens may not germinate well once temperatures rise, so get another crop of mesclun in now and select summer lettuce varieties to grow from January through to March. Consistent moisture, weekly liquid feeding and frequent picking of cut-and-come-again salad greens is essential to keep plants growing fast. Any check in growth can result in bitter-tasting greens. Apply slug bait regularly and spray if necessary for aphids and caterpillars.
BEANS
If beans fail to germinate, chances are the soil is too wet or too cold. Try again now the soil has warmed. Slugs and snails may also gobble new shoots so apply slug bait when sowing seed. Failure to set fruit could be due to bumblebees or earwigs nibbling the flowers, a lack of honeybees or too little water. Water regularly and watch for green bugs, aphids, whiteflies and rust.
ZUCCHINI
Always pick zucchini when they’re 10 to 15cm long – young and tender! If fruit is not setting well, hand-pollinate them by rubbing a male flower over the female flowers (those with a swollen base). oulch around plants with straw to retain soil moisture and keep fruit off wet soil. Water regularly and thoroughly, applying water to the soil, not the leaves, to prevent powdery mildew taking hold.
Make your own rhubarb spray
To make a natural insecticide, put five rhubarb leaves in a large pot of water. Bring to the boil and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. Cool and add a dollop of dishwashing liquid. Remember that rhubarb leaves contain toxic oxalic acid – wear protective gloves and don’t inhale the spray.
Make your own garlic spray
Blend 3 hot chilli peppers, half an onion and 1 clove of garlic in 4 litres of water. Boil and leave to soak for two days. Strain and use to spray plants for aphids, whitefly and caterpillars. Be sure to protect your eyes and skin from being burned by the chilli.
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