Basic gardening tips - Plenty of lettuce

Summer is here and crisp salads are the order of the day, so it's time to think about lettuce and leafy greens, a must for any garden plot.

Preparation is very easy dig over your plot, add some compost and fertiliser and pop them in.  Ensure you select the strongest seedling from your garden centre and only buy 1 punnet  at a time.  The secret to a good supply of leafy salad greens is staggered planting.  Put in your first punnet and then repeat the process in about 2 weeks time.  This will ensure a steady supply of leafy greens throughout the summer, repeat the process to suit your needs.

They love water so be generous and don't let them bake in the hot sun without quenching their thirst.  I have been picking my lettuce for a few weeks now and am ready to put the next lot in.  It's great to pop outside grab a view leaves and throw together a crispy salad for lunch, very satisfying.



Go green and enjoy the rewards.



Happy gardening


Bronwyn

Gazania are tough as olds boots

If you want a plant that will give you colour for most seasons then Gazania is the plant for you.

Gazania are mostly low-growing, near-evergreen, clump-forming or carpeting plants. They

quickly develop into small clumps of narrow lance-shaped leaves that can be downy and lobed near the base, often with lighter coloured undersides. Their showy flowers, which appear throughout the warmer months, are large, brightly coloured, often interestingly marked, and the array of colours is expanding every year.  Although the warmer months will see the best floral display, in areas with little frost the Gazania will continue to produce flowers all year round.

A very versitale plant for pots, rockeries or larger garden beds and when it comes to tough conditions they thrive.  Dought tolerant and sun lovers, so give them a go you want be disappointed.


Happy gardening

Bronwyn

Vinca or Madagascar Periwinkle a plant for all areas

Vinca is a hardy annual plant that thrives in sunny areas either in hanging baskets, window boxes or simply popped straight into the garden bed. 

Vinca produce a wide range of colourful blooms and the care you need to give them is minimal. 

All you need to do is give them a well drained soil, don't need to deadhead and they will bloom profusely from spring to autumn. Depending where you live you may even get flowering over winter.

They are extremely drought tolerant and bloom continuously even in intense heat so a great little champion for any garden.

Happy gardening

Bronwyn

Magnolia Little Gem is a gem in the home garden

The stunning dwarf magnolia Little Gem is the perfect small tree for the home garden.  An evergreen beauty with stunning dense foliage, leaves are dark glossy green on one side and brown/rusty velvet on the other, ideal for screening. The beautiful creamy-white flowers bloom throughout Summer and Autumn, and have a slight citrus perfume. Once established the Little Gem Magnolia is very hardy and pretty much disease free, which is a huge plus.

Little Gem grows between 4m-8m high and 2.5m-5m wide, it is a slow-growing plant, but once establish is gorgeous.

To prune all you need to do is snap of the spent seed pods once they dry out and turn brown.   Try this outstanding little gem of a plant that is perfect for the home garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy gardening

 

Bronwyn

 

 

 

 

Basic gardening tip for Australian native plants

Australian native plants are one of the most diverse group of plants you could wish for.  Bright and breezy colours, flowing or structural you name it they will provide a plant for you.

Grenvilles at left come in a wide range of colours and sizes.  They sprawl, spread and grow tall and the birds love them.  Many of the flowering gums seen here can enhance any backyard provided you choose a small species, which there are many.

Australian natives need a natural to slightly acidic soil, they do not like nitrogen rich fertiliser, really they don't need much of anything.  Most are water wise and respond to light pruning after flowering to keep them in shape.  Pruning is best done in Autumn. 

When choosing a plant think small as they will establish quicker and put on lots of growth come Spring.

Want some structure, plant Banksias they not only provide beautiful floral arrangement but follow up with an impressive display of nuts.

Grasses look fantastic set amongst other exotics and sway gentle in the breeze creating a lovely effect between more structural plants like these conifers.

This is only the tip of the iceberg so go native and enjoy the delights of a beautiful low maintenance garden.

Happy gardening

Bronwyn

Basic tip for passion fruit

It's that time of the year when the passion fruit are starting to appear providing us with delicious tangy fruit.  But, if you don't keep the water up to them the flowers will shrivel up and the fruit become stunted.

We have two four month old plants that have taken off at a rapid rate, all due to good soil and lots of water, never letting them dry out.  They will not  however fruit well for a few years just concentrating on growth, which is normal.

Our older plant on the other hand is going to have an abundance of fruit after a rocky start this summer.  I didn't realise the watering system wasn't working and it became very distressed in only a few days.  Lots of watering later and it has recovered well, flowering and starting to form fruit.















Keep the water up and be rewarded with luscious fruit.




Happy gardening

Bronwyn

 

Ornaments in the garden

I love ornaments in the garden so was deliggghted with my Chnristmas presents from Gary.

They join his home made black cat, but do look decidedly brighter, to provide interest and scare off the crows.