Spring has officially sprung, and all keen gardeners are chaffing at the bit to get growing! However, caution is needed at this time of year, as the danger of frosts is by no means over. Some plants can be sown straight into the garden now, but soil temperatures need to be high enough for them to germinate. Most crops will do better if sown in trays and kept under cover until the weather is warmer. This photo is of some of the seeds I will be sowing this month (except the corn, that pack shouldn't have been in the pile). I already have trays of broadbeans, celery, beetroot, celery, lettuce and onions germinating happily in the greenhouse. From September 7th - 17th is the optimal time for planting all but root veges, according to the moon calendar, so I plan to get busy. Larger seeds such as pumpkin and zucchini will be planted in individual pots or in toilet rolls and then potted up later, to keep them growing under cover until it's safe to plant them out. Most of the rest will go in seed trays in the greenhouse and be planted out in a few weeks. I also need to purchase a few more packets of seeds - especially silverbeet and sunflowers.
September is also a time when wild, windy weather can pretty much be guaranteed. As we approach the Spring Equinox on September 22nd, the weather is always very unsettled. Gales, thunderstorms and heavy rain are all par for the course. Right now, New Zealand is experiencing intense gales and thunderstorms around the country, and many towns are without power tonight. At my place, it's very, very windy, but our power is still on, and I don't think there has been any major damage done at this point. A couple of simple explanations you might find interesting:
The Equinox happens twice a year, and is the point at which day and night are of equal length.
The Spring Equinox brings the wildest weather - and this is because in spring, Antarctica is at it's coldest for the year, while the Equator is very warm - the biggest differential in temperatures occurs and causes strong winds. In Autumn, Antarctica is at it's warmest, and so the temperature difference between it and the Equator is much less, though we can still expect unsettled weather close to the Autumn Equinox.
Weather can be unpredictable, but when regular patterns occurs, it pays to be aware of and prepared for them. The high-winds of September are another reason to keep seedlings protected, and are why I haven't already got all my seeds planted. I'm hoping for a few calmer days soon. This is also why I prefer to have our sheep lamb in July - our lambs are a good size before September, and much more able to withstand cold, wet, windy, miserable weather.
The Equinox happens twice a year, and is the point at which day and night are of equal length.
The Spring Equinox brings the wildest weather - and this is because in spring, Antarctica is at it's coldest for the year, while the Equator is very warm - the biggest differential in temperatures occurs and causes strong winds. In Autumn, Antarctica is at it's warmest, and so the temperature difference between it and the Equator is much less, though we can still expect unsettled weather close to the Autumn Equinox.
Weather can be unpredictable, but when regular patterns occurs, it pays to be aware of and prepared for them. The high-winds of September are another reason to keep seedlings protected, and are why I haven't already got all my seeds planted. I'm hoping for a few calmer days soon. This is also why I prefer to have our sheep lamb in July - our lambs are a good size before September, and much more able to withstand cold, wet, windy, miserable weather.
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