In the garden: September

What to plant

Asparagus crowns, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, lettuce, melons, onions, parsnip, peas, radish, shallots, silver beet, spinach, and tomatoes.

Things to do

• Keep pests under control. Use insecticide to keep on top of slugs, snails and aphids targeting new growth.
• Spray fruit trees to ward off any possible fungal infections.
• Enrich soil for spring planting by adding compost and fertiliser.
• Prepare and sow new lawns. Spray any prickle weeds so you can enjoy walking barefoot (and prickle-free) on the grass.

Growing tomatoes

If you're dreaming of the fresh homegrown taste of summer tomatoes, now's the time to grow them as the weather is warmer. Fortunately, growing tomatoes is not difficult and they usually germinate within 10 days. Sow seeds indoors in pots of seed raising mix. This type of soil is ideal for small seeds as the finer grade makes it easier for seeds to push their way through. When the soil is warm outside and seedlings are large enough to move (5-7cm), transplant them to a sheltered, well-drained site with lots of sun.