Autumn planting tips for Hungarian gardens

Hungarian gardeners are advised to plant thuja between late September and early November in frost‑free soil. Holes should be two to three times the root ball size (at least 60 × 60 × 60 cm) with spacing of 50–80 cm depending on the variety. After planting, water 10–15 L per tree and mulch the root zone before winter. Recommended cultivars are the slower‑growing, dense‑foliaged ‘Smaragd’ and the faster‑growing ‘Brabant’, which may exceed 10 m without pruning.

For root vegetables, sow radish and ice lettuce about two weeks before the typical late‑August rains (around August 20). Loosen the soil, create a seed furrow, water thoroughly and add organic fertilizer such as pelletised poultry manure. Mulch the surface to retain moisture. Ice lettuce matures in 70–90 days, ready for harvest by late October, while the longer‑season radish (Munich variety) needs about 90 days and can be harvested in early November. Recent weather forecasts indicate slightly higher temperatures and 10–20 mm more rainfall east of the Danube, improving conditions for autumn sowing.