Newsletter #44 | August 2025

Kaarin Wilkinson
Aug 20
4 min read

Updated: Aug 21

No matter how long Winter is Spring is sure to follow

Get your Spring seedlings growing

Its almost spring and a great time for growing. We can now plant the following vegies beetroot, capsicum, chilli, coriander, dill, eggplant, fennel, kale, pak choi, potatoes, silver beet and swedes. Once we reach September we can add basil, celery, cucumber, melons, parsnips and zuchinni. If you are looking for some colour plant sunflowers, dahlias and echinacea. Try pumpkin later in September then carrots and maybe beans when the soil warms in October.

While vegie growing can be a bit hit and miss sometimes, depending on the weathe,r we can learn a lot from local growers. There is a great deal of information available in local libraries, on the internet and also from our fellow gardeners, friends and neighbours.

One of the key things I have learned in the past few years is to remember that seeds germinate at different soil temperatures. I love green beans and I am always keen to get my first crop started. Things like pumpkin, corn and beans prefer warmer soil. I have found that planting too early in the season often results in poor or little germination. Beans like a soil temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius. We can sometimes be tricked by warmers days thinking the soil temperature has risen but it is best to use a soil thermometer. Peas will germinate in soil temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius but it may take twenty days. Plant peas when soil temperatures reach twenty degrees Celcius and germination can be as quick as four days.

Working Bee

Our next working-bee will be Saturday 30^th August 10 am -2pm. We will be planting out the native garden beds, finishing the wicking beds and preparing the market garden area with carboard and soil. Remember we are a TEAM and Together, Everyone, Achieves, More.

Memberships 2025-26

A reminder that membership payments and annual fees for raised bed holders are now overdue. In a few weeks a new metal gate will be installed. Once this is completed the southern gate will no longer be accessible from outside the garden. The new gate will also have a new lock and code and only those who have paid their 2025-26 fees will be given the new code. Please visit our website to make your payments.

Maintaining your raised bed

· It has been wonderful to receive some great rainfall in the past weeks. While this is good for the plants that we want to grow it also promotes weed growth. Please remember to weed around your raised bed regularly. This makes the task of weed management a shared role and easier for everyone.

· Bed holders please also ensure that you keep your plants within your bed and install trellising over your bed if you have climbers. There is rio mesh available for this. The areas around the beds need to be kept free of vines and other plants that may create a tripping hazard.

· There are a few plants which due to their prolific seeding are causing some issues, a bit like weeds in the raised bed area. If you have Nasturtium (pictured above) growing in your raised bed, please remove and place in one of the green bins for removal to commercial composting.

· We would also discourage people from planting parsley as this is usually available in the herb garden. If you have this growing and/or really wish to grow some as you eat a lot, please ensure that you keep the plant well maintained and do not let it go to seed. We have significant work to do keeping down the soursobs and other weeds and we are finding parsley also sprouting prolifically along pathways where it is not needed.

From the Committee

· We are creating a members’ area in the green house where members can have a small space to start their spring seedlings.

· Plants are still for sale. These will be available until sold out at garden group mornings and working bees.

· Reminder- liquid fertiliser and garden tools are available in the members shed (the small shed). Please ensure you clean tools and then return to the shed. Soil and mulch are also available to bed holders. There is now a bin in the shed for putting in damaged and broken tools.

· A safety book is now in the shed for recording any safety issues you become aware off please date and add you name so we can follow up if needed.

Bunnings BBQs

Our next Bunnings barbeque is:

Saturday 20th September

If you are able to assist for a 2 hour shift please let Jan know via WhatsApp, phone, email or Facebook.

Volunteering to help on the day not only supports the development of the community garden with additional finances but allows you to meet fellow community gardeners. It is also a great social event to connect with your local community.

Regular events

Fortnightly Fridays and Thursdays 9.30am -11.30am

Every Friday fortnight gardeners and volunteers meet at the garden to do a few of the regular maintenance tasks, tend their own beds and stay share gardening stories together over morning tea.

Coming dates are

· August 29^th

· September 12^th

· September 26th

If you would like to learn more about our orchard and get hints and tips on growing your own fruit, join the Thursday orchard group with Jennie on the alternate Thursdays:

· September 5th

· September 19th

Driving and Parking cars at the Garden

Please do not drive vehicles on to the garden lease area unless you have express permission from one of the committee to deliver materials or equipment. Please also do not park in the Ambulance/CFS car parks and in Grange and Somerton Courts.

This project was seeded by

Our Committee

Our committee is Kaarin Wilkinson, Jan Brown, Jennie Simon and Roger Whiteman. If you have any questions or ideas please contact us via Facebook , on our website, on the Seaford Wetlands Gardeners WhatsApp chat or on the garden email seafordcg@gmail.com.