What’s happening in the Somerset West Village Garden this August
Located at 41 New Street, Somerset West Village Garden (SWVG) is a community project that grows and provides vegetables for the homeless and unemployed. Since its inception in 2015, it has, however, become so much more… it is now the green heart of Somerset West.
Jenny Findlay, SWVG founder and Di Irish, SWVG committee member, share a monthly update here on the blog, telling us more about what’s happening in the garden and what we can expect to stock up on at weekly harvest days.
Frosty Mornings and Spring Blossoms
There was a good sprinkling of frost this morning when I took my dogs out for a walk, and it only started warming up at 11:00. However, the signs of spring are there, with the first blossoms showing their faces on the almond trees. August is a busy sowing month for early summer crops both indoors and out as the days start to get longer.
Lunar Calendar Sowing Tips
It is interesting to note that, according to the lunar calendar, the best time to sow seeds is on August 4, when it is a new moon. This is when outdoor seed vegetables like Asparagus, Lettuce, Parsley, and Spinach should be sown. It is best to sow Eggplant, Tomato, Peppers, Squash, Baby Marrow, cucumber, sweet melon, and pumpkin on Monday, August 12, when the moon is waxing.
Early Sowing for Curcubits
We like to sow our curcubits (cucumber, baby marrow, squash, pumpkins, and melons) early as they are susceptible to pumpkin fly, which is more prevalent later in the season. The female fly lays their eggs in the fruit when they are very small, which causes them to be permanently damaged and deformed; sadly, they become rotten. The seeds of the curcubits must be sown as shallowly as possible, and the moisture content must be controlled as the soil is still cold.
The Science of Moon Gardening
Why garden by the Moon? In the words of Anne Gibson, “Moon gardening is simply learning to garden according to the moon phases. Sowing and harvesting in harmony with the flow of moisture as it is drawn up the plant into the stem and leaves, fruit and seeds. Or down into the root zone with the gravitational pull on the moon.” Just as the moon controls the tides, where high tides are highest at new and full moon, it also causes moisture to rise in the earth. There is more moisture in the soil at these times. This encourages seeds to swell, burst, and sprout as they take up the most moisture at this time. It is interesting to see what a difference it makes to the germination rate and, therefore, new seedlings can get into the beds sooner.
Influence of Moonlight on Growth
The amount of moonlight at different times also influences growth. The light of the moon increases after the new moon towards the full moon, which stimulates leaf growth. The decrease in moonlight after the full moon stimulates root growth. This is the best time to plant root crops. August is when lemon trees should be pruned after the fruit has been harvested. If one follows the lunar calendar, it is best to prune the trees after August 19 (waning moon). This time is also good for weeding, mowing, chopping wood, and sowing beetroot, carrots, and onions.
Post-Pruning Care for Lemon Trees
Once the trees have been pruned, fertilize with a fertilizer to nourish the roots, such as Atlantic Biorock Root Builder. This will build up energy reserves for the new season. We are continuing to harvest red and green cabbages, spring onions, kohlrabi, and turnips, and we are looking forward to harvesting our sugar snap peas and broad beans soon. The spinach has taken strain in this extremely cold and wet weather. The longer, warmer days are on their way, which will boost the growth of our spinach.
Experience the communal effort and sustainable practices at the Somerset West Village Garden, where we are not only cultivating a garden but also fostering a vibrant community.
Every Tuesday, we hold our market from 09:00-11:00, here we sell our freshly picked, organic produce. Vegetables now in season are cauliflower, kale, spinach, carrots, beetroot and spring onions.
You are welcome to visit the garden to see what we are doing. We are open Monday – Friday from 09:00-12:00 when there will be somebody to show you around.
