THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST

COOL & TEMPERATE

VEGIES

• Where late winter is likely to be warm and frost free (warm temperate and coastal zones), it’s safe to plant out summer vegies. But where the weather remains unpredictable and nights are cold or frosty still (cold temperate southern regions), delay planting until conditions warm later in spring.• Herbs and vegetables to hold off planting out in cold areas include basil, beans, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, capsicums, pumpkins and zucchinis.• To get a head-start with vegies in areas with short summer seasons,• Seeds and seedlings that don’t mind changeable weather include snow peas, lettuce, spring onions, silverbeet and herbs. Broad beans can go in, too, in cool temperate areas only.• In all areas it’s a great time to plant potatoes. Use virus-free seed potatoes and plant in well-drained soil.