22/07/2013 - Research for the Month of December

Actual Temperature
15 degrees Celsius
Humidity : 85%
Rainfall : 0.2mm
Wind : Slow Wind


Many flowers have developed specific colours and shapes to attract insects. Many are also spotted sticky, sweet and delicious scented, primarily to appeal to insect pollinators. Unfortunately, most vegetables plants have rather inconspicuous flowers they don't attract valuable pollinating bees. Yields can be substantially increased by placing a hive in the vegetable garden or simply by planting bee-attracting flowers such as borage, thyme, catnip, sweet basil or mint nearby. Hand-pollinating aubergine, cucumber and melon flowers with a soft watercolour brush may seem ridiculous but it can substantially increase your crop. Even tomato and sweet corn can be encouraged to produce more by shaking the flowers to ensure an even distribution of pollen.

Getting Ready 

Plant seedlings of beetroot, bok choy, sprouting, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, florence fennel, lettuce, marrow, Cape gooseberry, melons and tomatoes.

Seeds of many vegetable crops can be sown, but it is important to water them regularly. Keep weeds down in the garden by frequently using a push hoe and mulch with compost and sawdust to help converse moisture. 

Frost-prone and Frost-free Areas

This is the season when many vegetables can be planted out if they are to grow to full maturity. Regular hoeing is very useful in the vegetable garden. It not only keep weeds down but also helps to converse moisture. Stake peas and runner beans as soon as they look like climbing. Plant out cabbages and cauliflowers when the weather is moist. Plant tomatoes in sheltered, but sunny, corners of the garden. Give plenty of water at planting time to get plants off to a good start. 

Sow french beans, beetroot, celery, leeks, lettuce, New Zealand spinach, sprouting broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, melons, marrow, radish, silver beet, spinach, swede, sweet corn, turnip and zucchini. In cooler areas, it is still possible to get in an extra crop of peas and parsnip. Sow parsley, sage, basil and coriander. Use liquid fertiliser to boost the growth of pumpkins, cucumber, marrow, cauliflower and silver beet. Maturing crops of potatoes and onions should have water gradually withheld to ensure a firm and rot-free crop.

Liquid Fertiliser 

A well-known liquid fertiliser involves using six herbs : stinging nettle, chamomile, dandelion, the bark of the oak tree, yarrow (Achillea) and valerian (Valeriana officials). These herbs helps to activate the organisms that live in the soil. They also help to speed the fermentation of compost and manure, making them more readily available to use. 

The six herbs can be added to water and allowed to root down before the liquid is applied to the garden. Placed in water and brought to the boil, then allowed to cool, they can be used directly as a herb tea and watered onto the garden or onto the compost heap as it is being made.

 A combination of all these herbs is best but using just one and applying the liquid to the soil will also have beneficial results. Valerian tea is said to attract earthworms. Nettle and dandelion liquid fertiliser is a quick substitute for the combined six herbs and will also stimulate healthy vigorous growth.