What to do in the autumn months (March, April, May)

Direct from the farmer to you: autumn tips and tricks for your growing success.

• Finish up with the summer crop and begin clearing your plot - you can preserve any excess     
• Start removing any mulch as the soil cools and rains begin (depending on what mulch you used, you can either put it in your compost or dig it in later)   
• Fertilise fruit trees again to take advantage of the ‘autumn flush’    
• Maintain cabbage moth spray until end of April    
• Reset and replenish all annual gardens before establishing new season plantings    
• Prune stone fruit trees as soon as the fruit has been harvested    
• Shred all summer crop debris and heap in large layered pile of garden organics and manures    
• Let some seed set on crops that have produced really well (use good examples of the crop to promote bigger and better plants next season)    
• It’s possible to extend the life of tomatoes if warm enough by pruning out die back, applying a heavy layer of compost and remulching.