Garden Update April 2016

As the sun moves north on the horizon, the earth begins the inhalation of the radiant energy from the cosmos. The earthworms can move closer to the surface with the moisture we have received to do their jobs of digesting the soils and organic matter, adding fertility, chelating minerals and creating passages for the air to penetrate our biologically active soil.

Final harvest of butternut, squash and tomatoes from the homestead orchard, with the magnificent cows allowed to graze on the balance of the plant material, returning the digested and fermented waste material back to the soil. Winter crops of broad beans, peas, brassica, fennel and garlic will be planted next month with the ascending moon.

Lemons, grapefruit, mandarin, and blood orange have begun to ripen and have a wonderful warming action on the body for these cooler times. Native hibiscus, penstemon, salvia, chrysanthemum and nasturtium are all in flower adding colour and the delicious nectar and pollen for our beneficial bugs. Roses are having their last flushes of flower, these can be left on to form rose hips that are rich in vitamin C and allow the plants to complete their natural reproductive cycle, before the winter pruning.

It is a good time to apply horn manure, make compost, transplant seedlings, pruning, wine racking and harvesting for storage from the 1st-10th of April. This is a descending or waning period and is influenced by the earth and water signs.  From the 14th-26th of April it will be a good time to apply horn silica, plant seeds, graft and harvest for early consumption. This is an ascending or waxing period and is influenced by air or fire signs.

WE ARE CURRENTLY HARVESTING…  Lemons, tomatoes, capsicum, beetroot, radish, chard, salad greens, sunflower and wheatgrass sprouts, herbs, edible flowers, horse radish.

If anyone has any queries in regards to the garden, please feel welcome to ask…  Cheers, Jaimie