🌱 What to Do in Your Garden This December – Western Cape

🌱 What to Do in Your Garden This December – Western Cape

🌿Sow & Plant

Last Chance to Sow Summer Crops

If you haven’t planted your main summer veggies yet, there’s still a small window left:

  • Tomatoes

  • Peppers & chillies

  • Cucumbers

  • Eggplants / brinjals

  • Sweetcorn

  • Squash & marrows

  • Pumpkins

  • Melons & watermelon

Plant now for late-summer, early autumn harvests.

Continue Sowing

These crops can still be sown throughout December:

  • Basil

  • Bush and climbing beans

  • Beetroot

  • Lettuce (heat-tolerant varieties recommended)

  • Spinach & Swiss chard

  • Most common herbs

Add Summer Colour

Refresh annual flower beds with heat-loving, fast-blooming favourites:

  • Marigolds

  • Zinnias

  • Cosmos

These thrive in full sun and attract beneficial pollinators.

🍅 Feed & Water

  • Water deeply early in the morning to reduce heat stress and evaporation.

  • Add a layer of mulch (compost, woodchips or bark nuggets) to keep soil cool and retain moisture.

  • Feed vegetables and flowering plants with a balanced organic fertiliser to support strong summer growth.

  • Check pot plants daily — containers dry out faster in hot weather.

🐛 Pest Watch

Summer heat is ideal for common garden pests. Keep an eye out for:

  • Aphids

  • Whiteflies

  • Red spider mites

Organic Control Options

  • Neem Oil – effective for sucking insects and also acts as a mild fungicide.

  • Diatomaceous Earth – ideal for crawling insects.

Be sure to check the underside of leaves weekly. Catching pests early prevents damage and helps your plants stay healthy.

🌱 General Garden Care

  • Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.

  • Stake tomatoes, sunflowers, peppers and other tall growers to prevent heat or wind damage.

  • Harvest regularly — it encourages new growth and reduces waste.

  • Inspect your irrigation or dripper systems to ensure all plants are getting enough water.

🌿 Shop Our Gardening Essentials

Support your garden naturally with our range of organic mixes and products.

👉 Shop here: www.laylasorganics.co.za

🌞 Happy December Gardening, Western Cape!

With a little planning and consistent care, your garden can thrive through the heat. Enjoy the sunshine, the growth and the beautiful colours of summer.

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