With spring and warmer temperatures imminent, a local community group has offered planting advice, saying some vegetables are easier to grow than others.
Macedon Ranges Seed Savers founder Kylie Swain said that if you are a beginner gardener, there is a selection of green vegetables that will be easier to grow in the region.
“With spring, some of the easier things that you could start growing if you’re new to growing things from seed would be lettuce and greens, kale, herbs, Asian greens, and coriander,” she said.
Ms Swain said that at this time of year, due to the varying conditions in different towns of the Macedon Ranges and the complications caused by frost, the success of tomato plants will depend on both location and preparation.
“Tomatoes normally do pretty well as long as we have that warmth for a long period of time,” she said.
“Gisborne and Kyneton do a bit better than Woodend with their tomatoes, but if you already start raising the seeds now, and you get the plants a bit bigger before the last frost comes along, you can get good crops.”
“Frost is one that can kill off the seedlings if you plant them too early… the little plants don’t like the frost.”
Macedon Ranges Seed Savers main objectives are to maintain genetic diversity in food plants, share skills and knowledge, and to share the seeds of habitat plants – particularly native species.
Ms Swain said that the group is currently seeking more volunteers to assist with packaging seeds for its seed libraries – which can be done either at one of the Macedon Ranges libraries involved, or at home.
Inquiries: macedonrangesseedsavers@gmail.com
Oscar Parry
