Autumn Climate Garden.
What’s A Climate Garden
You can create a climate-friendly garden in your back yard, balcony or even roadside burm simply by nurturing your patch of soil in a way that is as eco-friendly as possible. This means no yucky pesticides, or fertilisers and trying to get as many nutrients in your soil as possible, naturally. Good climate gardens have a whole heap of micro-organisms living within the soil - it’s these organisms that help our plants grow, photosynthesise and pull carbon out of the atmosphere (where we have too much of it) and into the ground (where it belongs), in turn cooling our climate.
It sounds technical right? But it’s really not. All we’re talking about here is growing vegetables and perennials in a natural way, even better if we’re boosting our soil with top-quality compost. Compost breaks down food and garden waste to create a super-jacked soil-food that increases the health of our gardens and allows soil and plants to pull even more carbon from the atmosphere. There’s also the added benefit of growing food locally. Not only is it better for you when there’s no nasties involved but you save on carbon miles (walking into the garden to pull a carrot, versus driving to the supermarket… you get the gist) which is also amazing for our planet.
Start composting at home, or check out Sharewaste to find some compost near you.
Planting Into The Cooler Seasons
Now is the time of year to start preparing and planning your Autumn garden. Check what seeds you have and what you'll need for when the soil starts to cool. If you are starting with your own seed (i.e in a greenhouse or on a windowsill) make sure your pots are clean and sterilised, or weed your soil in preparation.
March / April Planting
Carrots
Beetroot
Greens are still good to go - lots of greens! (Lettuces, spinach, kale, rocket, cress, mizuna, gem lettuces, red salad, sorrel)
Spring Onions
Brassicas like Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage can be started indoors for approx. 6 weeks (until the white butterfly leave)
Coriander - Autumn, Winter and Spring
These herbs can grow all year round:
Mint + Rosemary
Sage, Oregono, Thyme (a bit slower in winter but can grow all year)
Basil if you’re in a hot place - they like the heat
Now It’s Time To Harvest
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Chilli peppers
Sweet peppers
Artichoke
Beans
Rhubarb
Greens
Hot Tips
Harvesting lettuce: Cut a triangle (or harvest outer leaves - keep getting new growth) and make sure you harvest before the plant is too big so it’s not tough. Lettuce heads the size of your palm are a good guide! Nice n’ juicy!
Soil temperatures need to be at least 18C for most hot weather crops to thrive. A soil thermometer will give an accurate reading but if the soil feels warm to your touch it's likely warm enough to plant. They will also fail if there is any frost so depending on your region waiting till later in the month may be wise.
Water your seedlings very very well before transplanting and water the soil where you'll planting really well before putting the seedlings in. Transplant shock - where the seedlings die back, wilt or become stunted - can be preventing by thorough watering. Choose a cooler time of day to transplant or an overcast day, this will help to reduce the stress on the plants.
Ideal Conditions
All Autumn crops need a bit of sun, good airflow and protection from the wind.
Green Thumb Scale
3/5. Autumn crops require a moderate level of maintenance, check on them regularly and if you can, harvest throughout the season to encourage more growth - especially greens! Your carrots and beets are low-maintenance veges - get them in early and watch them grow until they’re ready to harvest.
When To Harvest
Most of these crops grow above ground so you should be able to notice when there is enough to harvest, if you can, harvest throughout the season to encourage more fruiting.
