GrowSmart Calendar - October

It's spring time so the soil is getting warmer but it rains quite a bit.

Set pheromone traps for codling moths if you have an apple tree. Include plants that encourage predators (wasps and hoverflies) to eat pests such as caterpillars. These plants include daisies, flowering alyssum, fennel and parsnip. Continue preparing beds as they become lighter and less waterlogged. Continue mulching beds to conserve water.

Plant of the month - Tomato

There are many varieties of tomatoes available in seed or seedling ranging from small cheery tomatoes to giant 'beefsteak' tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes will often keep producing fruit right through autumn.

Tomaotes will grow on a variety of soils, but do best on well dug, composted loamy soil. Seeds are best sown in pots, then transplanted when big enough. Stake the transplanted plant and tie up on regular intervals. Remove laterals (unneccessary new branchlets at the point where the leaf joins the main stem) to keep the plant growing upwards. Plant basil nearby as a companioin plant. Excess tomatoes can be bottled, dried or made into a sauce then frozen.