Millie sets up the garden for a successful and productive spring, taking us through her best tips to get a head start. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
Spring is such an exciting time in the garden, particularly if you live in a cool or temperate climate. It’s a great time to set up for the growing season ahead, and Millie has the following tips to offer.
Despite seedlings being available in the shops, it doesn’t mean the soil is warm enough yet for them to grow. Millie uses a soil thermometer to check.
Millie grows her pumpkins ‘in a pile of goodness’ - straw, chicken manure and compost. By piling it up now it will rot down in time for planting in a few months. Stone pavers on top of the mount will absorb the suns heat and radiate it back out for the seedlings.
Heat is invaluable for starting seedlings, and a sunny windowsill is the classic. Millie has made a heatbox out of a reptile tank heater sunk into some sand. She gets an even 20 degrees, which is the perfect temperature to raise seeds and strike cuttings. At night it’s covered in plastic to stay warm. An old window also makes a good cold frame.
Decomposing compost also generates heat. Turning and adding nitrogen will boost this process. Placing cuttings on top of the pile will give them some extra heat.
Millie’s final tip is to prepare to fail, as you’re likely to come up with gaps as crops fail. She recommends sowing surplus lettuce and spring onions as back up plans that can go in any time.
Millie’s final tip is to plant some flowers to attract beneficial predators and pollinators.
Filmed on Taungurung Country | Central Victoria ___________________________________________
Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content.
This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel. Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use http://www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).
