The Changing Season

You know the season is changing when you see the little seedlings start to germinate, you are not exactly sure what is pushing through the soil but its alive and heading towards the light. Each new day you see more and more emerging, vigorously wanting the most of the resources around them, it is the survival of the fittest. Until the rain starts a lot of these seedlings will be at risk of fatal dehydration.

Since the winter solstice on the 21 of June, slowly the days have begun to grow in length, and slowly the worst part of winter fades into a distant memory as the temperature rises. Seeds have waited through the winter for the right average temperature range, and by the middle of August the temperature is just right for planting seeds. The average day temperature has risen above 23C and the average minimum has risen above 5C which means that the average temperature range is good for germinating.

The weather has patterns that it follows, and these can only be followed if you record them in a diary. Each area has a micro climate and a macro climate which you can follow, the later is easily monitored by watching the weather forecast or by getting the information form the nearest airport or using the technology offered by your cellular provider. The micro climate can only be monitored at the location of the planting site.

Beware there is always a last cold snap which seems to strike between the end of august and the middle of September. Depending on what is happening around the country weather wise, you will be able to tell when it might strike; any seedlings will be vulnerable to this cold and should be protected. This protecting is mostly from the wind so give them a blanket of something light weight which still allows light through.

It is the most beautiful thing to see when the season is changing, trees start to shoot into flower and leaves start appearing, butterflies and other insects start re-populating the plants and the food chain reactions is put into motion.

For good ideas on what you should planting right now have a look at the Plant Companions & Partnerships lesson, which is part of the Grow Your Own Food course.