April: GICIC’s Perth Gardening Guide

This is my personal growing calendar for Perth conditions during the month of April.

I will talk about local conditions, what worked as expected and what didn’t.  🙂 🙂

Perth Generally

Conditions:

Still warm but beginning to cool some with daily maximums in the mid 20C. Rainfall is supposed to be double that of March. All this calls for a change in what and where we plant.

I Plant:
  • Atichokes, asparagus
  • Beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts
  • Cabbages, cauliflower, chrysanthemums
  • garlic bulbs – thanks Ben and Jean Davis for your tips, apparently you refrigerate the bulbs for about a week to improve germination success. You best get a wiggle on though!
  • Kale
  • leaf beets (perpetual spinach), leeks
  • Marigolds, mizuna
  • nasturtium
  • Onions
  • Parsnip, peas, potatoes
  • Radish
  • Snow peas, spinach, spring onions, swede
  • tomatoes, turnips
I’ll Harvest:
  • Asian greens e.g. choy sum
  • Chilis, citrus
  • English greens
  • Kaffir lime leaves
  • Radishes and their leaves for salads
  • Roots like ginger and galangal
  • Tomatoes

 

 

Jobs:
  • if asparagus fronds are yellowing (they really should have already), trim to 2 cm above the ground
  • keep an eye on mildew etc as the warm weather and rainfall are perfect conditions
  • make snail traps
  • keep weeds to a minimum, the rainfall can lead to weed explosions
  • add 1.5kg of Dynamic Lifter Fruit Blend to each large citrus plants (follow the product’s instructions for younger/smaller trees or those in pots)
  • slow feed your roses for the coming ‘chilly’ weather and watch for pests
  • preserve chilis by freezing, pickling and drying
  • care for your chilis by spraying with pyrethrum to keep grubs at bay

Don’t:

  • harvest any asparagus.

Nursery seedlings (that caught the eye):

  • anise hyssop
  • artichokes
  • asparagus
  • bananas
  • bay
  • beans – snake, runner, french and broad
  • beetroot
  • berries – logan, black and blue
  • brussel sprouts
  • cabbages
  • carrots, wide variety
  • cauliflowers
  • comfrey
  • garlic
  • jalapeno chili peppers
  • kale
  • leeks
  • lemons
  • lettuce
  • nasturtium flowers
  • onion – wide variety
  • passionfruit vines
  • peas – notably dutch heirloom
  • potatoes – including sweet
  • rhubarb
  • rocket
  • silverbeet
  • tomatoes – wide variety

 

I Don’t:
  • Harvest any asparagus.
  • Tend to plant any new chilis.

 

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MyJournal

2018

 

FINGER LIMES?

 

My star performers:

  • bhut jolokia peppers
  • cayenne peppers
  • coriander
  • leaf beets (perpetual spinach)
  • limes (common)
  • radishes