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David Maher is our David also produces If your interested in Snail Mail - 16 Prentice Ph/Fax - 02 6766 2132 |
December/January in the Garden By David Maher
"Sometimes
too hot the eye of heaven shines."
William Shakespeare
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Which tomato variety best resists fruit fly? In my experience, the small cherry sized tomatoes, e.g. ‘Cherry Ripe’ and Tomato ‘Roma’ are the best. In the 2006/’07 tomato season, these did not attract any fruit fly in my garden. Sadly, the worst offender appears to be Grosse Lisse, in my opinion, the best flavoured tomato. What is the white film on gerberas, Michelmas daisies and miniature crepe myrtle? This is powdery mildew and is best controlled with Mancozeb Plus or any other fungicide including Yates’ Fungus Fighter. How do I know when pumpkins are ready to pick? They are generally ready to pick when the stalk withers. The different varieties have different growing and maturing patterns. In my garden: Jap pumpkins planted in September will be ripe generally in April, that is, 30 to 35 weeks. Golden Nugget will mature in a much quicker time, e.g. 14 to 16 weeks. Butternut pumpkins should be allowed to mature fully on the vine. How late may I plant beans? I do not plant later than the first week of January on my site. This planting produces beans in the first week of March, that is, 8 weeks after planting. In milder climatic zones, later sowings can be achieved. Can I use lawn clippings as mulch? Unequivocally, yes but it is best to let them dry initially or else spread thinly and do not spread on dry soil. Research suggests that a thick quantity of lawn clippings can extract nitrogen from the soil. Always water the soil well before using any mulch. What is a small growing tree or large shrub which provides an excellent privacy screen? Photinia and Evergreen Ash. When should gardenias be pruned? Prune back behind spent flowers in December/January after the completion of flowering, depending on where you live, and shape in early spring, if necessary. Why have aphids been so prevalent this spring and why do they show a preference for the terminal shoots? I cannot offer a credible explanation for their prevalence during the recent spring. Aphids enjoy the new growth at the terminal ends of plants, particularly roses, because they have a definite fondness for the sugar contained in the sap that the young, sappy shoots produce. When is Aquasol the appropriate soluble fertilizer to use and when is one of the Thrive products more suitable? Fertilizers ideally should be matched to specific plants’ requirements. Plants which do not flower and are green, such as spinach, herbs and indoor plants, benefit from a product high in nitrogen, such as Yates’ Thrive with a measurement of N = 27 , because it feeds the leaves and hence adds to their chlorophyll content. Plants which flower, however, are better fed with Yates’ Thrive Soluble Flower and Fruit because it has a much higher content of K = 26 which assists to promote flower development. Aquasol is another suitable product, too, because it has a K of 18. If you wish to have one product only in your fertilizer cabinet, my recommendation is Aquasol because it is an all purpose product. Will grey water harm plants? In the absence of scientific research, and specific information about the salt levels of respective washing and kitchen detergents and soaps, this is a difficult question to answer. I use grey water on hardy, SELECTED plants including canna lilies, crepe myrtles, roses, agapanthuses, bearded irises and day lilies. I do not use it continuously on any one plant. In other words, I alternate its use. I do not use it on native plants, azaleas, camellias, Daphne's and gardenias. I am comfortable with using grey water if rain is forecast as I suspect that rain washes the salts out of the soil. What are some of the best hedging plants? Buxus; Camellia sasanquas; Hardenbergia Mini Ha Ha; Loropetalum ‘China Pink’; Lonicera; Lavender; some Viburnums; Murraya. My favourite two hedging plants are Mini Ha Ha and Camellia sasanquas because they flower superbly and have few if any insects and grubs that feed on them. SHRUB OF THE MONTH Ceratopetalum gummiferum ‘Alberys Red’: This is a hybrid species of N.S.W. Christmas Bush which has grown splendidly in my garden in a 30 cms ceramic container and is now displaying its white flowers which will later change to red bracts. It was planted in November, 2005 in Searle’s Native Plant Mix. In March, 2007, it was fed with 10 grams only of Osmocote Plus. As it was in a container, I moved it to a position where it was less likely to be affected by frost. Hence, I cannot guarantee that it will tolerate frost in an open position. It survived last summer in a very open position but I did keep it moist. After it has finished flowering, it will be trimmed gently and potted on into a larger container measuring 40 to 45 cms and containing a native plant mix. I shall not disturb its roots. CHRISTMAS GARDENING GIFT IDEAS Gardening gifts have the potential to motivate aspiring, reluctant and competent gardeners. A gift can be intended to arouse an interest, to strengthen a recent or emerging interest, or even to prompt a less than enthusiastic member of the household. The purposes can be as varied as the choices. Options include:
Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year
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