Mid-spring marks a turning point in the garden: cool-season crops flourish, warm-season planting begins, and the promise of summer abundance takes shape.
Spring is well and truly upon us. Daylight savings has begun and gardeners are eager to be in the garden with a coffee or tea as early as 5am. While we’re all impatient to get on with it, this time of year is the time to practice patience and simply enjoy watching things grow.
Veggie patch
The veggie patch is beginning to reward your efforts with the first taste of silverbeet, spinach and fast-growing beetroot. If you’ve sowed summer crops, such as tomatoes and chillies in the past month or two, you should start putting them out on a calm, overcast day to harden off. Pumpkin, zucchini and cucumber seeds can be sown now, as can a whole host of perennial and annual flowers to bring in the birds and bees. Remember to keep sowing leafy veg, such as spinach, rocket and lettuce, to keep a study supply over the coming months.
Pollinating problems
Fruit trees are thriving, but mid-spring can be a tricky time for pollination. Strong spring winds can hinder bees, so gentle hand-pollination of apples, pears and stone fruit can help ensure a bountiful harvest later in the season (you don’t have to wear a bee costume to do this!) Look out for codling moth on apple trees, and check pears and cherry leaves for the eponymous pear and cherry slug, which tends to arrive in October and November.
General maintenance
It’s also a perfect time to prune any dead or damaged branches from shrubs, tidy buxus hedges, and give them a generous feed. A slow-release fertiliser scattered throughout garden beds will keep growth steady, while liquid feeds are ideal for those plants that need a quick boost. Read our article on when to use slow-release fertiliser vs liquid fertiliser for more information. Gross feeders in the garden, such as roses, citrus, peonies, potatoes and brassicas, all require attention now. Remember to provide trace minerals and complete organic fertilisers as well. Finish off with the addition of compost and mulch to retain moisture and enrich the soil for months to come.
While we’ve had lots of rain, the wind dries everything faster than you think. Add water retention crystals to pots or hanging baskets for the drier months of summer, and keep your pots watered well.
Weeds
Weeds are really making their presence felt now. Flick weed, vetch, capeweed, and sticky weed are all vying for attention. Pull them out promptly, while enjoying the satisfaction of a tidier garden. It’s worth remembering that even these ‘pests’ have purpose. Sticky weed is particularly useful for those who practice garden medicine, while the flowers of vetch and capeweed provide excellent food for beneficial insects.
Garden pests
Snails are another concern at this time of year. They can decimate tender hosta shoots in seconds, so remain vigilant, checking leaves daily and taking preventative measures where necessary. Katydids, earwigs, aphids, scale, and a host of other pesky pests are in their most prolific stages now. Plant a diverse range of flowering perennials and annuals to encourage beneficial predators, such as hoverflies and ladybirds. Check out our article on integrated pest management for other ways to get these bugs in control.
Kitchen experiments
Flowering lilac shrubs, including Ceanothus ‘Blue Pacific’ offer us a beautiful display of flowers this time of year. Lilac flowers are also a beautiful edible addition to cakes and sweets, while lilac syrup makes a refreshing addition to gin & tonic. We love Gatherer Forager’s recipes for lilac-infused honey and wild lilac soda.
Mid-spring is the perfect time to enjoy the steady growth that makes this season so satisfying. Flowering cymbidium orchids offer an elegant display in sheltered spots. Plants are establishing, flowers are opening, and the sense of life returning is palpable. Taking the time to observe, nurture, and feed your garden now pays dividends as summer approaches.
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What to plant now |
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Sow direct |
Beetroot, climbing beans, coriander, daikon, dill, dwarf beans, endive, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsnip, peas, radish, rocket, sage, salsify, silverbeet, snow peas, spinach, spring onion, perennial spinach, turnip |
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Sow in trays |
Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, celery, chilli, chives, climbing beans, coriander, dill, dwarf beans, leek, mint, oregano, parsley, peas, perilla leaf, rhubarb, sunflower, sweet corn, tomatillo, tomato, watermelon |
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Sow in trays on heat mat |
Basil, cucumber, eggplant, luffa, perilla leaf, pumpkin, rock melon, squash, zucchini |
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Plant |
Asparagus corm, cabbage, chives, mustard greens, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial spinach, rhubarb corms, silverbeet, spinach, strawberry, |
