We celebrate Mother’s Day in May and, by the end of the month, say goodbye to autumn. Make the most of the remaining autumn colour – both in leaves and flowers.
Onions are funny things. Start them off too early and the plants are finished before they form bulbs. Plant them too late and they never reach bulbing stage. But, in most areas, May’s a good month to sow Yates Hunter River White Onion. Start seeds in pots of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. While you’re waiting for them to emerge, mix some Yates Gro-Plus Garden Lime into the planting bed (skip this if you know your soil has a high pH). Transplant when the seedlings are big enough to handle and thin out when they’re about 12cm tall. Discarded seedlings can be used like chives to add flavour in the kitchen.
There’s still time to sow seeds of winter/spring pansies and violas early in the month, but, in cold areas, keep them in a sheltered spot until the seedlings have had time to establish.
It’s vital to get as much growth as possible on winter vegies – such as cauliflowers, spinach, Brussels sprouts and cabbages – before winter sets in, so regular liquid feeding is essential. Use Yates Thrive at least every two weeks or, even better, weekly at half the recommended strength. Organic-based Uplift is another feeding option.
Remove dead fruit from summer fruit trees such as peaches and plums. Remove dead twigs, too. Prune out any other dead wood and give the trees a clean-up spray with Liquid Copper after leaves have fallen. Tidy-up pruning of green, leafy material should be as light as possible because there’s no point in stimulating growth at this time of year.
Check indoor plants for signs of pests and diseases. Hand-remove scale and mealy bugs where possible. If necessary, take the plant outside (in the shade) and spray with Confidor. Allow the plant to dry off and make sure you bring it back in before nightfall.
Prepare soil for winter plantings. Mix in bulky organic matter (like compost) and some gentle, genuine Yates Blood & Bone or Dynamic Lifter pellets. Sandy soil may need more organic matter.
Tree begonias fit beautifully into those semi-shaded difficult spots against a wall or beneath large trees. Their upright, caney growth, coloured leaves and bunches of flowers ensure a long-lasting display. Cut back at the end of winter and spray any powdery mildew (to which they are prone) with Yates Rose Gun Advanced.
Their long, nearly-unpronounceable name ends in ‘mum’ and their flowering coincides with Mother’s Day
Many gardeners don’t realise how easy liliums are to grow
A selection of common questions gardeners have recently asked Yates experts
Specifically formulated to encourage the growth of strong, hearty roots
