Tasmania Gardening

Majestic mountains, huge wilderness areas protected in national parks, a wild coastline open to the storms of the southern oceans. there really is no place in this world, where one can escape the destruction of our natural environment all together.

Tasmania appears to have a huge potential for organic agriculture. The state has a higher proportion of rural dwellers than other Australian states, it has a long tradition of successful agricultural pursuits dating from the earliest European settlement, it is the only state with its own organic certifier, and geographically it is well placed to capitalize on its clean and green image.

Tasmania has four distinct seasons. Summer is warm with sunny days and mild evenings. The weather is more stable between the months of February and April, from mid summer to late autumn. Autumn provides the classical transition to winter with cool to frosty nights and clear cool days with deciduous trees displaying autumn colors and loosing leaves. Winter is characterized by sudden storms, shorter day light hours and snow on the higher peaks ( Mt Ossa 1617m / 5300 ft the highest ). Spring is the season shaking off winter with spring showers and new growth warming to summer.

All these factors contribute to the make-up of Tasmania and producing vegetation which is extremely diverse, from tall open eucalypt forest, alpine heath lands and large areas of cool temperate rainforests and moorlands. Many flora species are unique to Tasmania, and some are related to species in South America and New Zealand through ancestors which grew on the super continent Gondwanaland, 50 million years ago.

This is an idea when and what to plant for each month.

January

Sweet Corn, Spring Onions, Bush Beans, Lettuce, Radish, Cauliflower, Transplant Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli seed, Carrots, Kale, English spinach, Spring Onions, Lettuce, Radish, Cauliflower, Broccoli seed, Cabbage

February

Broccoli seed; cauliflower , carrots for autumn Fennel seedlings Kale Cauliflower seedlings, Broccoli seedlings Spring Onions; Leek seedlings, Chinese Cabbage seed (Wong Bok) (Bok Choy)

March

Radish, Merida F1 Carrots, Coriander, Beetroot, spring onions(Lisbon) Chinese Cabbage ( Wong Bok) (Bok Choy) Leek seedlings Garlic, Overwintering bulbing Onions, Shaftal clover, Broccoli seedlings, Lettuce, Cauliflower seedlings Lettuce

April

Lettuce, Garlic, Shaftal Clover Garlic, Overwintering Onions, transplant lettuce, Spring Onions, Peas

May

Lettuce, cabbage, Cauliflower, Spring Onions

June

Broad Beans Onions Lettuce, cabbage, cauli

July

sow odorless onion seeds indoors Prune Grapes transplant onions& fertilize

August

Peas; Lettuce; Radish; Peas, Start tomato seedlings indoors

September

Peas, Lettuce, Broccoli, Pepper seedlings indoors; spinach, Cauliflower, Cabbage. Broad Beans (last chance) Carrots, Radish Beans(will survive if no frost)

October

Cabbage, Broccoli, Celery seed Parsley, Summer Carrots, Silver Beet, Beetroot, Spring Onions, Leeks, Lettuce, Radish, Spinach

November

Zuchinni, Pumpkin, Squash, Sweet Corn, Lettuce, Climbing Beans, Tomato seedlings outside, French Beans, Silver Beet, Beetroot, Carrot, Spring Onions, Radish, Chinese Cabbage Cucumber

December

Lettuce, Radish, Celery seed, sweet corn, transplant Leeks.

For more information on organic gardening go to http://www.Teegoes.org
by: Timtohy Samuel