Tips

Some crops are harvested early, like peas and salad greens, which means you might have empty spaces in your garden mid-season.

What now? You can re-plant in that spot for a second harvest!

Beans are quick to mature and are an ideal choice. You can also put in cold weather and frost tolerant plants like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, as well as kale, which you'll be able to harvest into October.

Tips on harvest dates for plants are pinned up in the shed

Natural pesticide & fungicide sprays are available in the shed, with instructions for use on the label.

So far, we've seen these weeds in the garden. If you see the, pull them out and put in the compost bins:

Harvesting in early June

Lettuce, spinach: Cut leaves off and let the plant grow more - they come back! If you don't cut them, they'll go to seed and the leaves become bitter.

Peas: first of the season!

Also - time to stake your tomatoes!

In order to give your plants the water they need and at the same time make the most of the water we have available, consider these tips:

"Home Gardeners aren't farmers." This is what Mel Bartholomew writes in his book "Sqaure Foot Gardening". He encourages gardeners to plant a manageable amount so you don't get overwhelmed - with weeding, thinning, or even a bumper harvest. I use this method for my gardening. Want to know more? It is available from the Hamilton Public Library.

Planting dates vary by crop. The average last date of frost in Hamilton is this weekend - around April 29. So most things can go in the garden by then. There are even some hardier plants which could have been planted even three weeks ago. At the same time, there are some plants that need warm nights and days, not just absence of frost, and these shouldn't yet be planted.

Early crops:

• Plants: Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Onion (sets)
• Seeds: Spinach, Peas, Beets, Lettuce

Late April / Early May: