2020-01-01_ABC_Organic_Gardener

organicgardener.com.au^47

Our climate zone map is a simplified version of a Bureau of Meteorology map.

For more detailed climatic information in relation to cities and major towns,

go to: bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/climate-classifications/index.jsp

WHAT TO PLANT AND SOW NOW

Tropical

Subtropical

Arid/semi-Arid

WarmTemperate

ColdTemperate

PLANT/SOW NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Artichoke

Bean:French/Climb

Bean:Snake

Beetroot

Broccoli

Brusselssprouts

Cabbage

Capsicum/Chilli

Carrot

Cauliflower

Cucumber

Eggplant

Fennel/Florence

Ginger

Herbs/Mediterranean

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leek

Lettuce

Melon

Parsnip

Potato

Pumpkin

Radish

Silverbeet

Sweetcorn

Sweetpotato

Tomato

Turnip

Zucchini/Squash

Cold temperate

Top tip: Find some parts of your garden where you

can plant small colonies of locally indigenous species

(source them from a local council or private indigenous

nursery) to attract and support local indigenous insects,

butterflies,bees,spidersandotherfauna.

Plant: With everything growing like crazy, now is a

great time to plant some quick-growing, unusual leafy

edibles, such as red mizuna, watercress, rocket/arugula,

bloody dock and orach. The leaves of these plants are

used in a variety of different ways, some cooked and some

eatenraw,butallwilladdinteresttoyoursummerfare.

Pest: Once the weather warms up, white flies appear.

Recent UK research from Newcastle University’s School

of Natural and Environmental Sciences, published in the

journal Plos One, has shown that limonene found in

French and African marigolds (Tagetes species) will

actually repel tomato whiteflies. So plant these small

growing marigolds among or near your tomatoes.

Penny Woodward

Right: Red-spotted

Jezebel butterfly

is attracted to

indigenous species.

Below: Orach in

the garden.

PHOTOS: PENNY WOODWARD/INSET: LIBBY WOODWARD.