Sustainable Macleod mini newsletter
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Queensland Fruit Fly
URGENT Put out protein bait NOW!
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Last night was, and tonight and tomorrow night will be above 16C at sunset. When it gets to 16C or above at dusk Queensland Fruit Fly WILL BE MATING.
This means you need to put out your protein baits NOW. Not only is QFF attracted to protein, but females also need a protein meal before mating.
Initially, they will sting and lay eggs in citrus fruit and any fruit left on trees from last season, then they will infest stone fruit, apples, quinces and pears as the fruit form on these trees.
Protein baits are very different to pheromone lures. Each fruit tree needs one bottle with bait whereas a normal suburban block needs only one pheromone lure.
You can buy Cera traps (protein bait) but these are quite expensive so alternatively you can use PET bottles, insert some holes and fill with homemade bait. However, you do need to empty and refill these bottles every 5 to 7 days as the liquid protein rots and stops attracting QFF.
You can also buy an Aussie made bottle from Sustainable Macleod.
Here are some instructions for homemade baits:
In an empty soft-drink bottle, cut three holes about the size of a 10 cent piece, 10cm from the top.
Recipe 1
Pour in 1 cup of 100 per cent fruit juice (including pulp) and 1 tablespoon of cloudy ammonia (or wheelie bin cleaner).
(instructions thanks to Agriculture Victoria)
Recipe 2
Put a spoonful of vegemite (or brewers' yeast) and a spoonful of sugar in the bottle, plus the peelings from an orange or lemon.
Add enough water to fill the bottle to about a third, put on the lid, and shake until the yeast extract and sugar have dissolved
(instructions thanks to ABC TV's Gardening Australia program)
Other instructions:
- Tie a string around the neck of the bottle and hang it from the tree in the shade, 1m to 1.5m, off the ground.
- Hang out of reach of children and pets.
- Empty bottle including all insect bodies to refill. Refill every 5 - 7 days.
- Bees are not attracted to fermented baits but other beneficial insects may be.
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Launching: Sustainable Macleod Kids
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 Sustainable Macleod Kids is about to be launched on Facebook today.
This is a private group for paid (adult) members of Sustainable Macleod to join on behalf of themselves and their kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and other associated kids.
It's a network for sharing ideas and activities related to Sustainable Macleod goals. We will be posting activities that you can do together until we are able to run some in-person activities.
Sustainable Macleod Kids is aimed at the 4 to 12-year-old age group, but of course older and younger kids are welcome to join in.
If you haven't already, follow us on Facebook and join the Sustainable Macleod Facebook Group and keep an eye out for the new group!
Become a Sustainable Macleod member here.
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Upcoming events
For the latest information and to register for events, please visit the Events & workshops page on our website.
 Botany for home gardeners
Wed 8 Sep 7PM - 8PM
Via Zoom (online)
Did you know we all use botanical theory in our garden, even if we don't realise it? By learning more about how plants work, we can make the most of how we manage our gardens. In this workshop we will share interesting snippets of botany and how we can apply the information at home. We will try and keep things as simple and practical as possible, perfect for newcomers to botany.
New members session
Via Zoom (online)
Wed 15 Sep 2021 7:00PM - 8:00PM
We invite everyone to come along! This session is targetted at new and prospective members as well as those who may have been around for a while but want to hear more about Sustainable Macleod and the garden.
We will have a chat about the history of Sustainable Macleod, current projects and goals, the Macleod Vegie Swap, the Macleod Organic Communtiy Garden and upcoming workshops and social events.
 Fermenting vegetables for beginners
Wed 22 Sep 7PM - 8PM
Via Zoom (online)
Eating fermented vegetables is as old as humanity, but has dropped out of many Australian diets for a long time. Join Jen Willis to learn the basics of fermenting vegetables and the difference between pickling, canning and fermenting vegetables to preserve them. Consuming fermented foods and drinks is a great way to improve your health, and you can make so much more than sauerkraut!
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Urgent jobs for September
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- Remove non-compliant netting which is illegal from 1 September.*
- Make compost.
- Add potash or wood ash (both potassium) to soil to increase flower and fruit set.
- Tie hessian or cardboard around apple, pear and quince tree trunks for codling moth to lay in (remove and burn in 4 weeks then replace).
- Sow seeds in punnets and/or plant spring seedlings if beds are ready.If beds are not prepared, clear them of dead plants, weed and test pH for suitability for subsequent crops. Adjust pH if necessary (with compost and/or dolomite to make beds more alkaline, or sulphur to make them more acidic). This needs to be done at least a month, preferably two, before planting.
- Dig over beds removing stones, rocks, twigs and roots in preparation for spring planting.
- Dig in any green manure crops previously planted.
- Fertilise citrus trees with citrus fertiliser around the drip line. Avoid nitrogen-based manures which cause soft leaf growth exposing leaves to damage from citrus Leafminer. Treat Leafminer with white oil (home-made recipes on the internet).
- Implement your Queensland Fruit Fly prevention strategy:
- spray citrus trees now with kaolin clay, then stone fruit when fruit is small
- put out pheromone lures (Wild May) to monitor presence of male fruit fly
- put out protein baits to kill both male and female flies NOW - see QFF blog 4 (above)!
- net after flowers have been pollinated.
To follow a step by step Queensland Fruit Fly strategy, go to our Queensland Fruit Fly Blogs on the website now under Our Projects.
To buy lure bottles, Wild May and kaolin clay go to the shop on our website.
Contactless pick up available from 5 Fairlie Ave Macleod.
*From 1 September 2021, a person must only use netting with a mesh size no greater than 5mm x 5mm at full stretch to protect household fruiting plants. Failure to comply with this regulation could result in a fine under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.
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First, any seeds planted in August in punnets that have reached the 4-leaf stage can be picked out and planted in potting mix in trays or pots. These can be planted in the garden late September.
In punnets
Beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, corn (need at least 20 plants, planted out in a grid pattern), cucumber, kale, leeks, lettuce, pumpkin, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, tomatoes, zucchini, and basil if you can keep it warm night and day.
In punnets if you have a heat mat
Capsicum, chilli, eggplant, melons, basil.
 Direct into the ground
Asian greens* – including bok choy, pak choy, and tatsoi, – beetroot, carrots, daikon, Florence fennel, kohlrabi, peas, radish, rocket, turnip, coriander, chervil, dill, horseradish and lovage and all perennial herbs. Beans both bush and climbing, if you think there will be no more frosts.
*plant Asian greens very close together (broadcast seed thickly rather than planting in rows) so plants will be touching. This prevents insects from ‘getting to the leaves’ and eating them.
Potato
Buy certified tubers from a nursery (plant away from pumpkins as they are bad companions).
Jerusalem artichokes
As tubers (prolific spreaders).
Globe artichokes
As plants, or setts cut off the side of an established plant with a sharp spade.
Rhubarb
As crowns from a nursery.
Netting
Use exclusion netting on Asian greens, broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi and turnip.
Succession planting
Plant seedlings every few weeks so that they will NOT all be ready for harvest at the same time
Watering
Water soil (not leaves) deeply at least twice per week (rainfall less than 10mm per day does not count). Install dripline if possible.
Planting guide for rhubarb
https://www.sustainablemacleod.org.au/crowns-rhubarb-strawberry-asparagus-and-horseradish/
For the best site (sun, partial sun, partial shade) in the garden for each vegetable refer to 'How much sun do my vegies need?’
For preparation refer to ‘Preparing a spring/summer or autumn/winter vegie garden’
For directions for planting in punnets and for soil preparation for direct sowing refer to ‘How to plant seeds in punnets’
For an instructional video on how to use a pH kit go to: Watch our 'Testing Soil for pH' video
Written by Robin Gale-Baker
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Lastly, happy National Wattle Day!
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Today is the first day of spring (and doesn't it feel glorious!) but is also National Wattle Day.
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Here's one of our local species, Acacia pycnantha or Golden Wattle. It just happens to be our national floral emblem and the reason Australia wears green and gold, including at the Paralympics at the moment.
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