Truly gifted green thumbs collect Ag Show honours

We’re in full swing with our summer veg, with some gardeners reporting zucchini and tomato success already.

Alas I am not one of them, with several weeks waiting time before I get either of those two veg to the picking stage in my patch.

What to plant in November?

Along with tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkin, capsicum, melons, lettuce (shadier spots), and cucumbers, you can finally start your basil and corn.

Remember to plant your corn in a dense grid, rather than a straight line, as the grid pattern helps protect the plants from strong winds and aids in successful pollination. If you succession plant over a few weeks for all summer veg, you’ll also increase the duration of your harvest time and reduce the likelihood a pest or disease will take out your entire crop.

If you find yourself looking at plants that don’t seem to grow, small harvests, or indoor plants that continually die no matter what you do, perhaps you’d like to consider studying a Certificate II in Horticulture at South Regional TAFE’s Margaret River Campus. There are no prerequisites – just an interest in plants.

The Certificate II is taught on a Monday, follows the school term, and currently has students aged from 15 to 65 with varied experience levels – but that’s the beauty of it – we all come together to learn with each other.

What does a Certificate II in Horticulture look like?

We identify pests and diseases and how to treat them (successfully!), soil testing and improvement, permaculture gardening practices, operating and maintaining basic equipment, how to get the most from plant displays focusing on species suitability to our local climatic conditions, propagation (don’t buy another plant again!), and yes – even indoor plants and how to care for them.

Now’s the time to enrol for 2025! Horticulture courses are subsidised by the State Government, as demand for horticulturalists continues to grow.

As a sector we are seeing the hard work pay off – with hourly rates on the increase and all workers in the field in demand – from landscapers, groundskeepers, and general gardeners; to lawn care specialists, arborists, irrigation technicians, nursery workers, and farm hands – the list goes on.

Contact South Regional TAFE’s Margaret River Campus on 6371 3800 or visit southregionaltafe.wa.edu.au for more details and to register your interest. Places fill quickly so act sooner rather than later to secure your spot.

Finally, last month saw some wonderful examples of healthy, vibrant and no doubt tasty (I can attest to that) fruit and veg from our community green thumbs in the exhibition hall at the Margaret River Agricultural Show.

We saw some exceptional citrus, leafy greens, beans, pumpkins, beets, rhubarb, asparagus, potatoes, and a rather unusual carrot clump that won the oddest fruit or veg category. No surprises there!

Congratulations to all entrants for such a high level of excellence. We have some truly gifted green thumb growers in our local community.

Enjoy the beautiful growing conditions before we move into summer and Birak season, where our gardens, and particularly our soils, are sure to be tested by our drying climate. Get your mulch down now!

Terri Sharpe is Coordinator and Garden Specialist of the Margaret River Primary School Kitchen Garden Program and a Horticultural lecturer at South Regional TAFE.