The Vegetable Patch:

Harvest now:

Asparagus may still be producing new spears now, but don’t harvest past the first week or so of the month. After that, allow spears to grow on to become fronds, which will help build up the crowns for next year’s crop. Rhubarb should be growing well enough now for a first harvest. Pull and twist stems to pick – don’t cut them. Trim off the bases and leaves, which can be composted but not fed to animals or poultry because they are toxic.

What to plant now:

It’s full-steam ahead in the vegetable patch now, no matter where you live! Prepare the soil by hoeing to remove lumps and weeds, then rake level. Moisten well a few days before sowing or planting.

Sow seeds or plant seedlings of the following:   

• Asian greens
• Beetroot
• Broad bean
• Carrot
• Celery
• French bean
• Lettuce
• Leek
• Onion
• Dwarf pea
• Climbing pea
• Potato tubers
• Pumpkin
• Silver beet                    
• Spring/Green onion
• Sweet corn
• Tomato*
• Zucchini 

*In cool to cold areas, sow tomato seeds in trays and keep them under cover or indoors until seedlings are strong enough to go into the garden, in about a month’s time.