Garden Calender for the Brisbane region
Other Months
NB: These notes are under development. At present, the following applies to the greater Brisbane region only. It's hoped to develop these notes further in future updates, adding more details and eventually, more regions.
Naturally, this is a general guide only and will vary depending on local conditions, weather, plant variety etc. Ongoing water availability is also a big concern these days, so take this into consideration too, especially if planning new gardens.
October 2011
Spring is in full swing. One advantage of the cool conditions we've had so far this year is that we might enjoy the flowers and fresh springtime foliage a little longer before the heat hits.
If you've been inspired to buy roses, hippeastrums or other spring flowering plants, its a good time to get into the nurseries and make your selection. If you are able to select from plants in flower, you'll be able to see the colour and form of the bloom for yourself instead of having to rely on only a photo or description. If you're going to a flower show, botanic gardens or open garden, be sure to take a pen and paper to make a note of the plants you especially like, so you can shop for them later.
Its an appropriate time for general fertilisation of the garden if you didn't do it last month. New plant growth stimulated by the warmer weather with be looking for nutrients, and soil microorganisms will be stepping up their activity, helping the nutrients in fertilsers become available. In anticipation of the summer months ahead, its also a good time to mulch.
Poinsettias will be past their best so cut back hard along with any snowflakes you haven't done already. As grevilleas, melaleucas (callistemons) and other spring-flowering shrubs finish, trim off dead flowers to prevent whem wasting energy on unwanted and unattractive seed pods.
Likewise, dead-head spring flowering annuals and perennials to prevent seed-set prolong flowering as long as possible.
Cut back tropical foliage plants like acalypha, cordylines and crotons (if necessary) and they should shoot again quickly with the warmer weather.
The Vegetable Garden
As noted above, it's a good time to fertilise and mulch. If there's a lot of rain about, remember to compensate for leaching losses. On the other hand, if it's been dry, don't forget that adequate and consistent soil moisture is critical to good yields so provide supplementary watering if necessary (and if possible).
Along with the heat, pests and diseases are also ramping up, which is another reason keep already-planted veggies strong and moving along. Get your pest control strategies in order - consider insect-proof nets, fruit fly control bags and traps if you don't like spraying.
Just as we deadhead annuals to encourage more flowers, try to keep up harvesting of peas, beans, broccoli etc to extend production as long as possible..
Sowings of a wide range of vegetables can continue this month. Try tomatoes, eggplant, capsicums, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, rockmelons, choko, lettuce, radishes, beetroot, silverbeet, beans, snakebeans, rosella, okra, and sweetcorn.
It's very difficult to grow veggies in the height of summer in SE Qld, even if you have the time to look after them with all the distractions of Christmas, New year and summer holidays. October is the last chance to get a wide range of vegetables underway while weather is relatively mild. Nevertheless, look out for the more heat tolerant varieties of traditional vegetables like tomato and lettuce (check the packets or catalogue for information) and start increasing sowings of heat-lovers like sweetcorn and okra.
See also: Vegetables, Seed raising.
Fruit Trees
Sorry, I haven't prepared any monthly notes for fruit trees yet. In the meantime, you can try the main page dealing with this subject and check the links for the type of fruit tree you're interested in, here: Fruit Trees
The Flower Garden
See also: Annual Flowers and Bedding Plants, Seed raising
Garden shows, open gardens
See what's in the Events Diary for October
Looking ahead
Christmas & New year isn't far away, so hurry up and get those heavy landscaping jobs finished before it gets too hot and you'll be ready and relaxed for entertaining visitors over the holiday season.
If you're starting to think about what to buy loved ones for Christmas, why not something for garden-related? Whether beginner or expert, old or young, acreage owner or apartment dweller, flower gardener or dedicated veggie grower, there's something for everyone. Get more ideas here: Garden Gift Ideas.
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