For those of you who are following along with the crop rotation poster, we are talking this month about what to do to care for and cultivate your little piece of backyard paradise.  We’ve done a round up of your main beds, we’ve covered the perennial crops in the outer beds, and this week we are going to talk about those small fruiting trees, shrubs and vines that make up the structure and variety in your bed.

What to flowers to sow or plant in the winter flower garden. (Check. your local climate)

For those of you who are gardening with the Crop Rotation Poster - here is what to do with your perennial plants in winter. Rhubarb, Asparagus, Strawberries and Herbs.

What to plant in the Vegetable garden in the winter month of July in the Southern Hemisphere or New Zealand /Australia

July is winter here in New Zealand. We’re not long past the shortest day, sometimes called Mid-Winters Day, on the 21st June, but don’t be fooled into thinking that its the middle of winter.  Winter is just kicking off as those currently experiencing heavy rain and snow will well know.  I grow in a cool temperate part of the South Island so tend to speak most about what applies here but I will include more warm temperate notes as well.

It’s still winter here in the south with the promise of more cold conditions to come - so don’t be fooled by the occasional warm springlike days we will get this month. They do get the sap rising in both gardener and garden alike however, so it is okay to get excited about the new season.  There’s always plenty to do, even if that may involved sitting in front of the fire planning, but planning is important to get the most our of ll the hard work we put into our gardens.

Tips for getting started on planning your new season vegetable garden.

June has arrived and with it the beginning of winter proper.  This is the month of the winter solstice where we experience the shortest day/night around the 21st of the month. We call it mid-winter but it’s really only the beginning of the 3 main winter months here in the southern part of the globe of June, July and August.  Of course if you live on the other side of the equator it is the summer months.