Planting Information > What to do When > March

According to the Antipodean Astro Planting Calendar for March:

Wednesday 17th for Seed Producing Vegetables, Thursday 25th for Leafy Vegetables.

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

Fruit

Custard Apple: Irrigate well. Get ready for harvest.

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

Lychee: Mulch trees, Peak water needs. Prune so 20% sunlight can be seen on ground under tree. If Erinose mite is a problem, spray with wettable sulphur every 10 to 14 days. From pin head size new growth to fully open and harden off.

Low chill stone fruit: Moderate water needed.

Mango: Prune trees after harvest. Apply 20 grams per square metre of Organic Xtra to dripline. Spray with copper-based spray for anthracnose per fortnight..

Passion fruit: Keep vines well watered. Harvest fruit every second day under vines.

Pawpaw: Apply 20 grams of Organic Xtra per square metre to dripline of tree. Plant out.

Persimmon: Apply 20 grams of Organic Xtra per square metre to dripline of tree..

Strawberries: Prepare sites for runners to be planted out at the end of the month.

Jobs that need doing in any Average Home Garden

• Plan April planting of trees and climbers.
• Order roses and fruit trees for winter planting.
• Start to dig summer mulches into ground.
• Rake up fallen leaves for garden beds and compost.
• Remove rotting fruit from under trees and destroy it.
• Check moisture content of soil, and water if necessary.
• Start a compost heap or bin.
• Dust cabbage plants and other brassicas (if you planted them in February) John Box (Life Member) advises against February planting because of the cabbage moth and butterflies.
• Check plants for scale (spray with white oil if necessary).
• Choose positions for new fruit trees.
• Prune geraniums hard if not already done.
• Stake dahlias, chrysanthemums and Easter daisies if they are starting to sprawl.
• Plant potatoes in vegetable garden.
• Pick pumpkins with a 5cm stem, for a few days of weathering before storage. Add compost to your garden beds.
• Plant a mango or a clump of pawpaws.
• Take cuttings -with the BOGI fair in mind.
• Tidy herbs by weeding them and removing dried stems and leaves. Sprinkle half a handful of Organic Xtra around each plant.

Strawberry Planting time

In subtropical and tropical areas it is time to renovate old strawberry beds and establish fresh ones. The varieties Earlisweet and Redlands Crimson will begin to produce crops in June or July.

Old Garden Beds

• Weed, remove dead leaves and excess runners.
• Mulch well-rotted animal manure or compost, then cover with clean hay.

New Garden Beds

• Buy virus free plants of locally available variety.
• Dig compost into the chosen site.
• Mark planting spots about 30 cm apart, and work a good pinch of Organic Xtra into these areas, cover with about 5 cm of soil.
• Plant crowns firmly and water well.
• Tuck thick wads of clean straw or hay close to the plants and cover all bare soil.