July here in our part of the world is till the depths of winter and although I’m thinking and preparing for the new season – there is not much time spent in the actual garden. It is  great to get out there on frosty morning to see how the ground is chilled and laced with ice – and to think triumphant thoughts about slugs and other pests not surviving the winter chill to make it through to eat my precious spring plants.  And then there is the occasional warm day when you notice that the daffodils are emerging and you realise that even when you can’t see it, there is still growth and movement going on.

Well the mid-winter solstice is upon us now and today I am going to be doing a bit of a tongue-in – cheek ‘ceremonial” planting of garlic. It is traditionally planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest and as I am a fan of tradition – I am going to plant some in a facebook live.   All going well.   Meaning – if I can get my husband to be the cameraman as I won’t be able to plant, talk and hold the camera at the same time.

There is always a powerful psychological factor when it comes to new beginnnings.  As humans, we love the idea of ‘turning over a new leaf” and starting afresh don’t we?   I think every day is a chance to start afresh and do my best to create a better outcome each day but for many of us, we love the idea of a whole New Year stretching out into the future 12 months. 

Professional Countrwoman Garden at Bellbird Hill Otago New Zealand. Entrance Gate. Autumn Garden

Janette Kemp RIP to an extraordinary Professional Countrywoman.

Sow:

Broad Beans, onions (in trays or outdoors if warm). Brassica seeds sown now will take 4 months to mature. Lettuce. broccoli, cabbage, carrots, Chinese cabbage, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, shallots, spinach.

Plant:

Cabbage, broccoli, cauli, kale, lettuce, parsley, silverbeet or spinach, strawberries, soft fruits such as currants, raspberries etc, fruit trees

Cultivate:

Mound up soil around leeks. Keep well-watered along with celery. Weed around asparagus.  Protect heads of cauli from the weather by covering with big leaves. Keep weeding and hoeing between plants to keep weeds down.

Harvest:

Beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, pumpkins, main crop potatoes, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, spinach and silverbeet, herbs

Prepare:

Dig beds where crops have finished, add compost to trenches, Sow green crops, make compost and mulch bare ground in preparation for winter weather and preparing beds for spring