GrowSmart Calendar - June

It's cold and rainy now so raised beds are a good idea to improve drainage in heavy soils. Do this and you can grow a wider variety of veges in your garden. It also keeps the soil warmer.

Plant asparagus crowns, garlic bulbs, rhubarb crowns and fruit trees.
Sow broad beans, cabbage, onions, peas and spinach.

Plant of the month - Broad Beans

Broad beans are a good value crop that grows over cooler months, to be harvested in late winter and spring. The beans inside the pods are harvested when the pods are about 15cm long or more. The beans can be used in cool weather dishes such as casseroles, and are delicious steamed and eaten with mushrooms, parsley, garlic and olive oil.

The plants like rich soil but don't need anything more over the growing season - too much nitrogen encourages leaf growth at the expense of pods. the plants grow tall and need staking to prevent wind damage. The best way to do this is to surround the beans with a reactangle of stakes and soft twine (or old pantyhose!) Tops can be pinched out to create a bushier growth habit and multiple strems.