Planting Information > What to do When > July

According to the Antipodean Astro Planting Calendar for July:

Sunday 11th good for Fruit.

Saturday 17th good for Root and Leaf Vegetables

For the 2004 calendar contact: Brian Keats PO Box 1560 Bowal NSW 2576 (price: $14.00)

Fruit

Custard Apple: Harvest every 3 to 4 days as fruit matures. Don't let trees dry out. Apply Dolomite to soil 20 grams per square metre to drip line.

Figs: Figs are only produced on new wood of the new seasons growth. Mulch well.

Lychee: Do not let trees dry out. Minimal watering is needed. Check emerging flowers for flower caterpillars. If more than 50% are infested, spray with Pyrethrum or garlic spray.

Low chill stone fruit: Peak or critical water needs- water trees 2 weeks before flowering and 3 weeks after, in late July start blossom thinning. Winter prune late varieties. 30% of annual fertiliser can be applied - 20 grams of Organic Extra per square metre to drip line of trees, dry out, continue to spray copper based spray for anthracnose if visible.

Passion fruit: Don't let the vines dry out. Keep up the fish and kelp sprays every month. Small amount of Organic Extra can be applied to vines, 20 grams per square metre (e.g. large vines 100 grams, small vines 50 grams).

Pawpaw: Spray with wettable sulphur if powdery mildew is a problem. Minimal water- Use copper based sprays if black spot is about. Pick fruit at mature stage with 50% colour to have full flavour.

Persimmon: Minimal water required at this time.

Strawberries: Feed with Organic Extra. Also use fish and kelp regularly over plants to keep in good health. This will prevent fruit rot. Pick fruit when fully ripe. Keep plants fully watered - try not to wet the berries. This will prevent fruit rot. Mulch plants so the berries not lie on the soil, one of the best mulches is pine needles

Chores for July

• Plant new rose trees.
• Plant out flower and vegetable seedlings from April and May container sowings.
• Divide and replant perennials, (remember the fair and pot some , buy new ones.
• Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous plants (15-30 cm) and insert deeply in garden soil Those that 'take' can be planted out next autumn.
• Shift rose trees and deciduous plants if necessary.
• Apply liquid fertiliser to parsley and flower and vegetable seedlings
• Sprinkle and water in small handful of organic fertiliser around herbs such as oregano, marjoram, sage and lemon bairn.
• Lift Dahlia tubers and store in sawdust. Break up clumps of day lily. Break up clumps o chives or shallots and replant plump offsets.
• Prune Hydrangeas and fuchsias to two-thirds their size, cutting to just above a bud.
• Sow a 'green crop' (lupin, vetch, broad bean) in a vacant bed to add nitrogen and humus to the soil (dig it in just before it flowers, and plant vegetables six weeks later)
• Plant rhubarb crowns in soil enriched with old manure, blood and bone, established plant also need this as a mulch.
• Plant offshoots of crucifix orchids.
• Reduce watering of house plants, but watch out for dry spots in the garden and water deeply when necessary.
• Squash caterpillars visible on foliage (rather than spray ones you can't see). Look underneath as well as on top.
• Plant potatoes, sweet potatoes and shallots in the vegetable garden.
• Split up clumps of daylily after six or seven years, or if new plants are wanted.
• Carry out heavy construction jobs (paving, pergolas, walls and steps) while it is cool.
• Winter pruning (Roses should not be pruned before July):
  a) Old fashioned Roses only need to remove unsightly and dead branches in winter.
  b) Climbers need to be pruned after they flower in spring.
  c) Modern bush and standard roses are pruned fairly hard each July, in very cold areas not until August. Cut the water suckers to the ground (shooting from below the union).
• Basic tools for the garden:
  a) Wheelbarrow, a fork, a rake and a hoe. A weeding implement preferably hooked.
  b) Medium-weight spade and a long-handled shovel (preferably with a rolled top to the blade).
  c) Secateurs, a pruning saw and hedge-clippers. Sharpen secateurs and saws for winter pruning jobs.
• Garden tools serve you best if looked after:
  a) Store them together in a dry place.
  b) Sandpaper wooden handles occasionally and rub in raw linseed oil.
  c) Grease metal axels of wheelbarrows Keep cutting implements sharp.
  d) Lawn mower if you have a lawn, get it serviced regularly.