Autumn is a time of the onset of milder temperatures and lower humidity.
It’s a time that all gardeners reel back with complex PTSD after an onslaught that is fraught with an army of pests and disease in tow.
As the intense heat of summer fades, plants can thrive without the stress of extreme conditions.
This has been a very taxing season for my dahlias!
Take a breath and take time to assess your garden.
Remove any summer crops or annuals that have finished producing unless you are saving resilient seeds for next season. Clear away dead or diseased plants.
I have fought an endless war against broad mites this year.
Sap suckers can kill mature plants so it’s vital to treat plants with either a miticide, diatomaceous earth or an option is to buy in predatory bugs (Bugs for Bugs) which was highly successful.
Summer weeds are also now mature and dropping seed.
Ragweed and Farmers Friend weeds are rampant and invasive.
Try to eliminate mature plants before their seed cures and drops to the ground.
Also, we never know if a rogue tropical low might make things interesting so keep your eye on the weather forecasts.
I watch the activity of ants and bees to get an understanding of what might appear.
Autumn is perfect for planting the largest variety of vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, beans, beetroot, celery, cucumber, eggplant, leek, onions, radish, spring onions, tomatoes and carrots.
Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and silver beet also thrive in the cooler weather.
Herbs like rocket, parsley, fennel, coriander, basil and chives do well in autumn and add inspiration to the kitchen.
When it comes to flowers, choose those that can withstand cooler temperatures and possibly light frosts.
Choose alyssum, aquilegia (biannual), billy’s buttons, calendula, candytuft, chamomile, chrysanthemum, cornflowers, cosmos, linaria, marigold, nasturtium, nigella, phlox, poppy, salvia, snapdragon, sunflowers and zinnias.
Additionally, autumn is a great time to plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and irises, which will bloom in late winter or early spring.
A lovely local group to follow on socials is the Canungra Crop Swap.
They meet the third Sunday of every month.
You can take fruit/veg/flowers/plants/seeds along and swap them for other produce grown in local gardens.
Also, shout out to local Beechmont seed company – Eden Seeds – run by Debra and Ambre. They are experts and understand our local conditions.
Happy gardening in your happy place!
By Simone
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