June

Winter is here. Still, perfect weather to be in the garden on a sunny day, with forecast temperatures milder than in 2023 and more rain forecast than in 2023 - leading to active growth on most vegetables.

If you haven't started yet, grab some seedlings to plant, as seeds will struggle to germinate with lower overnight temperatures, unless you have a warm spot to get seeds started. Try the Yeppoon Community Market on Saturday mornings to grab some tough, locally grown seedlings

Consider the DTM (days to maturity) for any crops you plant in June. Leeks can take up 120 to 150 days to reach maturity, so it could be September/October before you begin picking. If you use a 4-bed rotation, you may want to begin rotating beds through August, because Spring is such a short season for us, leading into Summer. So choose plants with DTM of 60-70 days.

And remember the Yeppoon Show is on June 8 and 9. Grab a schedule from https://www.yeppoonshow.org/participate and join in the fun of the Fruit and Vege Section. A great way to introduce the next generation of growers to the fun of "growing your own".

Locals know that this is our peak growing season - if you're from southern climes, don't be surprised that tomatoes are at their peak now. Don't be afraid to ask for help if it's all a bit strange.

Use the comments to ask a question or ask for advice or seek some help. There'll always be someone willing to help you down the track to success!

Feeding

Plants and the soil will benefit from regular feeds. Use seaweed, compost tea, weed tea or worm tea, sprayed over any foliage or the soil early in the morning. It will get your soil life pumping for autumn growth. Use a watering can or hose-on applicator.

Be aware of plant requirements - leafy greens need more nitrogen than root or legume crops.

Tomatoes can be boosted with a Powerfeed of Seasol that has a higher potash content - https://bit.ly/40sDwKp.

Pushing crops along with homemade brews shouldn't compromise the nutrient value you get from your vegetables.

A healthy soil will ensure a healthy, nutrient dense food - https://bit.ly/3XOw7Ud

Planting

I'm still planting out plants I've propagated. I find that plants establish well now, because they don't have to battle high daytime temperatures. But I don't get frost. YMV! This week I've planted out mushroom plant, lemon balm, okinawa spinach, westringia, Italian parsley and warrigal greens.

I add compost to the planting hole, and water in with seasol.

And I can very quickly back off my watering regime to allow the plants to thrive on their own.

Propagating

It's still warm enough to get some cuttings to strike, if you have a warm spot.

I've been taking cuttings of basil, westringia, cat's whiskers, gynura, myoporum, patchouli and lemon balm.

I've been pleasantly surprised to see most striking readily.

I have a very warm spot, that stays warmish through the night, but a window sill might be all you need. Get in before it gets too cool. Then you'll need to wait till spring.

Succession planting

Succession planting is about having regular small quantities of produce pickable, rather than a glut of produce that you either pickle , donate to Food Relief or take to the monthly Produce Swap.

This spreadsheet might be useful if you're a bit geeky. Otherwise, the aim is to plant smaller quantities more regularly. https://bit.ly/3xGlfxd

Check out the guide below to work out when to plant different seeds for succession planting.
https://bit.ly/3IHRthQ

Pollinators

Start your flowering plants now- zinnia, cosmos, marigold, ammi majus (Queen Anne's lace), cleome and nasturtiums. They'll attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Don't forget herbs as dual purpose plants. Perennial basil flowers almost nonstop. And it provides abundant leaf for cooking. Consider placement depending on whether they’re a companion or decoy plant. Decoys need to be placed away from your crops.

Edible companions

Many companion plants are edible - so they're doing a number of jobs in your edible garden.

Calendula, nasturtium, alyssum, marigold, and viola are some of the edible flowers that can be used to encourage beneficial insects.

Legumes

Peas

Beans Bush

Leafy greens

Lettuce

Spinach

Kale

Brassicas

Asian greens

Coriander

Silverbeet

Rocket

Mustard greens

Fruiting

Tomatoes

Capsicum

Chilli

Okra

Zucchini

Root

Leeks

Onions

Shallots

Carrots

Beetroot

Garlic

Radish

Turnip

The list above is for Winter planting in the subtropics.

Root vegetables (especially carrots) should be sown directly into the ground. Here's a pretty good guide to help you plan the sowing of seeds in punnets or trays, so they're ready for planting out when you're ready - https://www.boondieseeds.com.au/blogs/news/plantingguide Read seed packets to check which seed should be soaked prior to planting.

Again, with the exception of some of the root vegetables, I'd be sowing from punnets to get plants established quickly and producing quickly.