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| wiki:townsville_weather_rainfall [2020/10/25 12:30] – jaffa | wiki:townsville_weather_rainfall [2023/10/08 21:07] (current) – [Seasons] admin | ||
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| Townsville will get most of it's annual rain over three months, and usually in one large weather system such as a cyclone or rain bands. For the remainder of the year it's dry and arid and humidity drops after the summer months have passed. It could be said that Townsville climate is a mixture of the arid drylands and tropical landscapes. Techniques that apply to both these areas apply to Townsville. Use of a mixuture will benefit your garden. | Townsville will get most of it's annual rain over three months, and usually in one large weather system such as a cyclone or rain bands. For the remainder of the year it's dry and arid and humidity drops after the summer months have passed. It could be said that Townsville climate is a mixture of the arid drylands and tropical landscapes. Techniques that apply to both these areas apply to Townsville. Use of a mixuture will benefit your garden. | ||
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| - | * Selection of trees that don't require cold periods | + | ==== Seasons ==== |
| - | * Selection of smaller plants that can tolerate, or prefer high humidity | + | === September to October (WINDY & DRY) === |
| - | * Mulching and covering of soil when evaporation exceeds rainfall which is most of the year in Townsville | + | |
| + | * Often windy - known as the "mango winds" mango trees flower in this period. | ||
| + | * Winds are very drying | ||
| + | * Last period | ||
| + | * Occasional storms | ||
| + | |||
| + | === April to September (COOL & DRY) === | ||
| + | * Traditional vegetable growing season | ||
| + | * Mild winters | ||
| + | * Low humidity | ||
| + | * Minimal to no rainfall | ||
| + | * Cool outdoor temperatures make this season | ||
| + | * Time crops like Pigeon Pea, or other crops you want dried beans pods etc from, to set in these months. The low humidity means mold is less likely to affect successfull drying | ||
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| + | === November to January (HOT, HUMID, DAMP) === | ||
| + | * The build up months, humidity | ||
| + | * Plant growth increases substantially compared to the cooler months | ||
| + | * Bug activity substantially increases | ||
| + | * Still dry but threats | ||
| + | * Outdoor activities get harder due to humidity | ||
| + | |||
| + | === February March April (HOT, HUMID, WET) == | ||
| + | * The wet season characterised by persistent humidity. | ||
| + | * Monsoonal rains if they are going to occur in the year, usually fall during these months over weeks of rain and intense heat and humidity | ||
| + | * Traditional vegetables rarely survive, | ||
| + | * Asian greens, Cassava, Arrowroot, Sweet Potato, etc (non european or traditional vegetables ) thrive | ||
| + | * Insect activity at its maximum | ||
| ==== Kitchen Gardens in Townsville ==== | ==== Kitchen Gardens in Townsville ==== | ||
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| During summer, all insects and molds increase in their growth and most traditional vegetables will not survive or produce a yield. Shade is essential to any vegetable garden in summer as most traditional plants will not survive the intense heat and dry between the rains. | During summer, all insects and molds increase in their growth and most traditional vegetables will not survive or produce a yield. Shade is essential to any vegetable garden in summer as most traditional plants will not survive the intense heat and dry between the rains. | ||
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| + | == Strategies == | ||
| + | * Water runoff collection and storage in tanks, as well as the ground using swales. | ||
| + | * Selection of trees that don't require cold periods to flower, can tolerate extended dry times as well as high humidity in the wet | ||
| + | * Selection of smaller plants that can tolerate, or prefer high humidity in summer, and irrigated throughout the dry period | ||
| + | * Mulching and covering of soil when evaporation exceeds rainfall which is most of the year in Townsville | ||
| + | * Wicking beds | ||
| + | * Grey water usage: **Banana circles** with lemon grass, taro, cassava, ginger, paw-paw, sweet potato interplanted. | ||
| ==== Water is precious in Townsville ==== | ==== Water is precious in Townsville ==== | ||
| The town water supply is somewhat reliant on consistent wet seasons year after year to recharge the catchment and back country for municipal water. During years of poor or below average rainfall it's not uncommon for water restrictions by the Council to be imposed. Any trees or extended garden outside a kitchen garden need to have mechanisms built into them to coast them through these dry periods when lots of irrigation is not necessarily possible using town water supply. | The town water supply is somewhat reliant on consistent wet seasons year after year to recharge the catchment and back country for municipal water. During years of poor or below average rainfall it's not uncommon for water restrictions by the Council to be imposed. Any trees or extended garden outside a kitchen garden need to have mechanisms built into them to coast them through these dry periods when lots of irrigation is not necessarily possible using town water supply. | ||
| - | Collections of large numbers of trees and shrubs not adapted to dry periods on minimal water are best not planted in Townsville, if reliant on irrigation from town water. | + | Collections of large numbers of trees and shrubs not adapted to dry periods on minimal water are best not planted in Townsville, if solely |
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