Tip for the month: First, buy some extra buckets, or a Jojo greywater tank.
Water restrictions are at level 5 – while it is amazing to grow our own food, if it's using too much municipal water, it becomes an ethical matter. We're in this together. If you're buying land, a reliable water source is a key consideration. It also needs to be when considering growing plants.
If you can use your shower/bath/sink water for your plants, that's great! October is a great month for planting as we find ourselves heading into the middle of Spring. There are perhaps a few rains left before the heat of Summer - make the most of this by getting your buckets wisely positioned and your new seeds/seedlings into the ground! Also remember – if you plant things out of season, they require more TLC in order to thrive. In times when water is scare, this is not the most efficient way to garden and thus not nutritionally optimal either as plants have to work harder to grow.
October's plant list:
Amaranth, Basil, Bush and Climbing beans, Beetroot, Butternut, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chard, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chilli, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Leek, Leaf Mustard, Lettuce, Jerusalem artichokes, Onion, Parsnip, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rhubarb, Sweetcorn, Sweet pepper, Sweet potato, Turnip, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini
Amaranth, Basil, Bush and Climbing beans, Beetroot, Butternut, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Chard, Cape Gooseberry, Celery, Chives, Chilli, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Kohlrabi, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Leek, Leaf Mustard, Lettuce, Jerusalem artichokes, Onion, Parsnip, Parsley, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Rhubarb, Sweetcorn, Sweet pepper, Sweet potato, Turnip, Tomato, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini
October's What's-in-season list:
Vegetables: Globe artichoke, Beetroot, Green beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Courgettes, Cucumber, Leeks, Garlic, Lettuce, Mealies, Mushrooms, Onion, Parsley, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes, Spinach, Squash, Sweet potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Waterblommetjies
Fruits: Apricots, Mulberries, Bananas, Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruit, Naartjies, Guava, Paw-paw, Pineapples, Kiwi, Rhubarb, Strawberries
Happy planting!
Gabriella Garnett
For the Patchwork Group
