Spring vegies Climbing plants Spices Flowering trees Sweet corn

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ISSUE 50 Spring

2009 For more gardening hints & tips,ps, visit www.aboutthegarden.com.auwww.aboutthegarden.com.au Issue 50 Visit our selections for... Spring 2009 About this issue... Website Features of the Spring vegie planting 4 Social climbers 6 season Spice up your life 8 Spring fl owering trees 10 Sweet corn 18 Just about anything you ever wanted to know about Spring rose care 20 gardening can be found at: www.lifeisagarden.com.au Special interest Kitchen recycling with Envirobokashi 5 Plants from Redlands Nursery 16 Petunia Raspberry Blast 21 Find Searles premium garden products and Regulars gardening hints & tips on: ATG Spring 2009 Garden Diary 12 www.searles.com.au Spring handy hints & tips 14 Stuffed capsicum recipe 22 Subscribe to About the Garden 22 For great gardening hints and tips, products There’s so much to do at this wonderful and services, visit: time of year! From the moment the fi rst www.mygarden.net.au magnolia or peach blossom appears until hydrangeas and frangipanis signal the approach of summer, spring is full of garden delights! This issue is all about enjoying backyard produce and the many beautiful fl owers of spring! Take care and God bless... Con Searle

Nothing makes us love a man so much Great recipes and as praying for him. — William Law programs to help kids learn how to grow • Managing Director: Conway Searle their own food at: • Contributors: Noel Burdette, Frida Forsberg, Alana Searle, Ashley Searle, Jason Searle & Tony Stallwood www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.auwwwww.kittchheenggara ddenffound • Magazine Manager: Alana Searle • Design & Layout: Frida Forsberg — ATG Graphics Dept. • ATG Group Co-ordinator & Advertising: Jo Johnson • Front Cover Photography: Alana Searle Want more? About the Garden is published seasonally by About the Garden Pty. Ltd. ABN 21 076 919 992 Subscribe to About the 4914 D’Aguilar Highway, Kilcoy or P.O. Box 70, Kilcoy Qld. 4515 Phone: (07) 5497 2313 • Fax: (07) 5497 2287 Garden’s Seasonal Newsletter Email: [email protected] The material appearing in About the Garden is subject to copyright. Other than as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part of this magazine To subscribe, email may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. No responsibility is accepted by About the Garden Pty. Ltd. for the accuracy of information contained in the text, illustrations or advertisements. Although believed to be accurately and correctly sourced, thereof disclaims any liability against itself, editor/s or employees arising from any person acting on the material herein. The opinions expressed in the [email protected] magazine, or by contributors, do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. ©Copyright 2009 About the Garden Pty. Ltd. There are varieties of carrots available improve drainage. Planting from seed Spring vegie planting that mature at different times and by is preferable as carrots don’t usually staggering your planting times, you can transplant well. Follow the directions Carrots havea e cacarrots o on hand almost year- on the seed packet carefully and be Growing your own vegetables is not only an excellent round. CarrotsCarro store well in the ground sure not to plant too deep. Thin young way to cut down your grocery bills and reduce your and it’s betterbett to have too many than seedlings. ‘Baby’ carrot varieties grow carbon footprint, it’s a great pathway to a healthier Tomatoes not enoughenough so plant several packets if well in pots of Searles Herb & Vegetable lifestyle. Here’s how to get started with some of the youyou have roomro for them. Carrots dislike Premium Potting Mix, as can several

Ashley Searle Ashley highhigh nitronitrogenge fertilisers and often grow blunt-rooted varieties. Crop rotation most popular vegetables in Australian home vegie gardens. best in soil thatth has been ‘used’ by can be very helpful in preventing soil- other vegetablesveget the previous season borne diseases. Keep moist, but don’t without further feeding. Good drainage overwater as this can lead to root rot. To Tomatoes like an open, sunny site to suppress weeds and water the is important in preventing rot-related harvest, ease them out of the ground with deep soil, excellent drainage roots rather than the foliage. Feed diseases, so build up garden beds and with a trowel to avoid snapping the and protection from wind. The tomatoes with Searles Fish & Kelp mix in plenty of river sand if you need to root and twist off foliage before storing. smaller varieties can grow well in Plus. Soil-borne viruses like wilt can large pots or tubs. Taller varieties usually be avoided with crop rotation will need staking, preferably at or by growing in pots. Use Searles Only one type of zucchini should watered up until the point when fruit planting stage to avoid damaging Pest Gun for severe infestations of be grown at any one time as cross- begins to mature, after which point existing roots. Tomatoes will grow aphids, caterpillars or mites. Hang pollination between different varieties keep the roots slightly damp. Mulch in practically any soil, provided it Searles Fruit Fly Traps to combat can affect fruit quality. To keep a well under each plant to protect the Zucchini Vegetables has been dug over with plenty of fruit fl y. To avoid damaging the benefi t from continual supply, plant an extra 3 plants shallow roots and prevent the fruit Searles 5IN1 Plus at least 2 weeks fruit, include part of the stalk being kept moist every month over the warm season. In coming in contact with the soil. Zucchini before planting. When planting from when harvesting and snip and well weeded. spring and autumn, give zucchini full is pollinated by bees, so don’t seed, be sure to thin them out once off baby tomatoes in trusses. Most veggies A generous layer of sun; in summer, semi-shade. Zucchini use pesticides. Watering in the they start growing as overcrowding Planting basil near tomato prefer a slightly mulch, about 5cm thick likes a well-composted, deep soil mornings can discourage fungal can encourage disease. Make sure plants is said to improve alkaline soil, so if your will help conserve that has been heavily manured the infections. Powdery mildew the root ball is well anchored when its fl avour and also helps soil is acidic, sweeten it water and smother season before. Ensure good drainage. can be controlled with Searles planting as top-heavy plants can remind you which herb works at least 2 weeks before weeds. Compact varieties can be grown in Mancozeb Plus. Searles Bug blow over. Mulch well around plants best in tomato dishes! containers. Dig the soil over to a depth Beater can control aphids. planting with Searles of 15cm, adding plenty of Searles 5IN1 Pick zucchini when it is young Garden Lime at the A new zucchini Plus. Sow seeds 1m apart, into saucer and tender. Regular harvest recommended forming on the plant Lettuce is a great crop for beginner drill, maybe 5mm deep. Once they like depressionsd in the soil. Keep well- promotes more fruit. rate. gardeners and children because it are large enough to handle, thin is so fast to mature (about 8 weeks seedlings to about 25cm apart. from sowing seed). Planting lettuce Lettuce can be prone to fungal Lettuce Feed your garden...... crops successively on a monthly disease in humid conditions so RecyclingR made easy with the basis can ensure you always have make sure plants are well-spaced Recycle your food waste lettuce on hand. Give lettuces full to allow airfl ow and water Bokashi Kitchen Composter Grow sun and water regularly to keep only in the mornings so vegetables with the fabulous their shallow roots from drying out. plants have time to dry fast by providing The Bokashi Kitchen to keep in your kitchen. They will wilt in excessive wind and out before nightfall. adequate water Composting System is a Bokashi micro-organisms Bokashi Kitchen Composter summer heat. Lettuce can grow well If aphids attack, and fertiliser to make are contained in a dry in containers. Enrich soil with Searles wash them off with a convenient way to compost them crisp and sweet. 5IN1 Plus before planting and ensure hose. For best results, any kitchen scraps including mixture of bran and rice The easy way to recycle This applies to lettuce, good drainage, building up beds if apply Searles Flourish meat, dairy, onion, seafood hulls known as Bokashi, carrots, silver beet, necessary. Lettuce seed is best sown fortnightly, according and citrus. Bokashi uses which has been fermented ALL your food waste beetroot and straight into garden beds in a shallow to the directions. and dried for easy storage. celery. effective micro-organisms which ferment waste in To use the system, simply anaerobic conditions rather add your daily kitchen than aerobic conditions. scraps as you produce Capsicum loves the heat, so in cool become quite heavy when laden TheThe processproce is odourless, them. Lightly cover the The simple and easy zones, wait until frosts have passed with fruit. Maintain a light mulch. doesdoes notnot producep heat or scraps with a sprinkling recycling alternative before planting. Capsicum is also Feed fortnightly with Searles Fish & Capsicum lechate, doesn’td require of Bokashi, compressing highly ornamental and can be Kelp Plus up until fruit set. If growing turningturning aandn produces the waste to remove any grown for its brightly coloured fruit in containers, feed weekly and don’t that turns kitchen waste minimalminimal greenhousegr gases. air pockets. Bokashi juice which lasts a long time on the plant. allow plants to dry out. In warm into rich organic soil For growing in pots, use Searles climates, capsicum are perennial, AsAs oopposedppose to conventional will accumulate in the Herb & Vegetable Premium Potting fruiting best in their second year. Cut composting,compostin fermentation is bottom of the bucket, use conditioner, right in your kitchen! Mix. Capsicum can be planted in them back hard after fruiting fi nishes pleasant smelling and does this as a liquid feed. After seed trays, but should be planted in late autumn and they will shoot not attract insects or vermin. fermentation, simply dig into the open by the time they’re again the following spring. Hide fruit Bokashi compost is ready in the contents of the bucket about 10cm high. Plant them in the among the foliage on very hot days as little as 1 week and acts as into your garden or add it hottest part of your vegie patch, as they can suffer sunburn. The more a nutritious soil conditioner. At to your compost bin, where giving them plenty of space for their you pick, the more will grow. Remove just 290 x 290 x 400mm high after a couple of weeks it extensive root system. Taller varieties the fruit with some stalk to improve will have broken down into will need staking as they its keeping qualities. (approx. 20 litres), the whole 4 system is compact enough humus. 5 Social

Alana Searle Climbers Rose ‘Iceberg’ Passifl ora (Ornamental) Stephanotis Coral Creeper Climbers grown in pots offer • Lady’s Slipper Vine • Passiflora Passionfruit. Available flowers from spring to autumn, climber gives an outstanding floral versatility, variety and are great (Thunbergia mysorensis). Also in either fruiting or ornamental form. sometimes longer. Very easy to display in spring and summer. for a coverup job. Here is a list of called tropical wisteria. Large Allamanda A great evergreen for a sheltered grow but needs plenty of room Prefers rich soil and a sunny successful climbers that will do the yellow and red pendulous flowers position. and strong support. position. Tolerates frost. job with minimal fuss. appear most of the year. Tropical • Jasminum polyanthum but grows well down to Sydney. • Cardinal Creeper (Ipomoea Vigorous, richly fragrant climber with No sneeze, please Pot People Grown best along an awning or a horsfalliae) ‘Briggsii’. Bear deep large clusters of pink buds to open • Allamanda large archway so the flowers are red flowers in winter and spring. Try allamanda, bougainvillea, to white star shaped flowers in late Gorgeous yellow trumpet shaped free-hanging. Underground tubers can cause banksia rose, campsis flowers occurring in clusters give a winter and spring. Grow in most problems so plant well clear of (bignonia), cardinal creeper, • Banksia Rose splash of colour on a wall, fence and soils in full sun or part shade. paths and walls. clematis, dipladenia, mandevilla, support. Prune after flowering to Yellow or white flowers borne this pandorea, passiflora, pyrostegia, • Flame Vine (Pyrostegia venusta) • Coral Creeper (Antigonon encourage strong growth and repeat evergreen, thornless climber from rose (climbing), Solanum bear bright orange flowers in winter leptopus). Bears pink flowers in flowering. Protect from frost and late spring. Loves sunny position. jasminoides or wisteria. and spring — a glorious sight. winter. Grows in a wide range of plant in a moist, well drained soil. • Solanum jasminoides Needs plenty of room and strong soils from temperate to tropical White or blue flowers from spring • Climbing Roses ‘Iceberg’, support. climates. Needs a strong support. Edible to autumn. Very useful, adaptable • Passionfruit ‘Charles Austin’ & ‘Gold Bunny’. • Pandorea jasminoides (Pandorea • Campsis grandiflora this climber for all sorts of cover-up Chinese Star Jasmine jasminoides) Mauve, pink and white • Grapes • Bougainvilleas jobs. vigorous, deciduous or evergreen • Stephanotis (Stephanotis floribunda). Perfumed, white flowers Quick Covers appear in spring and summer. A • Wisteria dainty climber which is easy to Very popular vigorous climber. control. Hardy, but can grow ‘too well’. • Hoya Plant in pot to control size. • Dipladenia • Honeysuckle Vigorous woody • Mandevilla has spectacular, large perennial climber. Flowers emit flowers from spring to autumn. a sweet, honey fragrance in A prolific flowering, easy-care summer. Be careful — in some climber. Plant in full sun to part councils around Australia it is shade. Available in different colours. considered a weed because of its vigorous nature. Honeysuckle is more easily Protect from frost. managed when grown in a pot.

• Chinese Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) bears white, strongly fragrant flowers through summer and sometimes longer. Slow growing in its early stages, it will flourish when established. Trained up pillars, pergolas and arches (see left) or as a useful ground cover, it makes a stunning summer display. This beauty grows best in a sunny position and needs to be protected from heavy frosts. Tolerates most soil types as long as it has good drainage. Lady Slipper Vine 6 Chinese Star Jasmine (Thunbergia mysoriensis 7 Spice up your life!

Replicating the intoxicating aromas and fl avours shaded corner of the garden where it will we experience in restaurants can be as simple as fi ll up an unused space with ease. obtaining high quality spices, and there’s no better Galangal or greater galangal (Alpinia saffron stamons galanga) is an important ingredient in way than growing them in your own back yard. cardamom galangalgala foliage being harvested many Thai dishes. It is a close relative of both cardamom and ginger but is In warmer areas,as, try your hand at growingg in curries and stir ffries. The midd section can The spice trade has a rich history. In the easier to grow in cooler regions. Great cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). This be blended with olive oil in the blender early days, spices did more than simply for growing in pots, its butterfl y-shaped, beautiful small tree will grow up to 4 metres to make a subtle lemon grass paste or improve the fl avour of food — they served apricot fl owers make it a handsome and the leaves exude the most intoxicating marinade for fi sh or chicken dishes. The in the vital function of food preservation. ornamental plant. Again, it is the thick curry foliage fragrance when crushed. Cinnamon has green, strappy leaves are perfect for Early sea traders carried spices from rhizome that brings a warming fl avour to an alluring, almost hypnotic fragrance that steeping in boiling water for a refreshing the exotic east and introduced them curries. cannot be matched by any other spice. Its lemon grass tea. This easy-to-grow plant will to western civilisation where they soon Chilli peppers (Capsicum spp.) are always mysterious qualities have been utilized for accommodate any place in the garden became more valuable than gold. In the on the list for those wanting to put some centuries in food, medicine and perfumes. and its soft blue-green, weeping foliage 21st century, spices such as saffron can still, ‘fi re’ into their cooking and these days Adopted by the western world about 200 can be effective in a landscape. It is useful gram for gram, command prices that rival there is a huge variety to choose from. years ago, it has become synonymous with for combatting erosion problems near some of our most precious metals. The ‘temperature’ of chillies is graded sweet dishes throughout Europe and the watercourses. Lemon grass is best used fresh Ginger (Zingiber offi cinale) is one of the on a scale of one to ten (1 being the Mediterranean. Small stems will impart their and can be harvested at any time of the world’s most familiar spices. Its strong mildest and 10 being the hottest). If you’re distinctive fl avour when used to stir beverages year. fl avour and aroma makes it an essential unsure of your tolerance, try something such as tea and coffee. Cinnamon likes Used alone or combined with one ingredient in a range of Asian dishes and is like Serrano, which rates 3, and work your a semi-shaded spot with deep, rich, well- another, these spices can bring magic associated with sweets like desserts, cakes, way up from there. For those daredevil fi re drained soil. to your favourite dishes. Grow some of biscuits and drinks throughout the western eaters in the kitchen, the Habenaro is one Lemon grass (Cymbopogan citratus) is a these beautiful plants in your garden and world. The part we use is the underground of the hottest forms and easily rates 10. This a turmeric fl ower grass-like plant that grows to a height of 1.5 discover fi rst hand, some of those mysterious rhizome of the plant. Give ginger an open, is not to be confused with the Jalapeño metres and has a number of uses. Traditionally, fl avours and fragrances that were once full sun position and plenty of room as it will which many food chains add to takeaway it is the swollen base of the stem that is used only familiar to food connoisseurs. cinnamon foliage spread and multiply quickly. Harvest during meals and rates about 6. All chillies enjoy its winter dormancy period and always full sun and well drained soil. When fruiting, store some rhizomes for re-planting in spring. continual harvest will encourage further Crushed or minced ginger can be frozen fruit production throughout the warm in ice cube trays for later use. In frost-prone season. If space is limited or you want to . Th keep them out of reach of children, chillies ies e areas, ginger can be grown in large tubs d veg natu can be easily grown in pots. n r and moved to a sheltered position during t a al w cold periods. i Curry leaves, (Murraya koenigii) are highly ru ay. Two close relatives of ginger are turmeric fashionable at the moment. This native of F and cardamom. Turmeric (Curcuma Sri-Lanka is a large shrub or small tree to domestica) is the spice that gives a curry 3 metres. It can be frost tender in some its distinctive, mustard-yellow colouring. districts so protection may be needed in The subtle fl avour of turmeric is used to winter. The leaves carry a delightful fl avour enhance curries, soups, stews, vegetable that brings any curry to life. When added and rice dishes. Like ginger, turmeric is a to boiling rice it will impart a soft fl avour clumping plant that produces rhizomes that and perfume. Its small berries can be used are best harvested during winter when the in chutneys and spicy relishes. Curry leaves cardamom fl owers plant is completely dormant. Unlike ginger, freeze well and can be stored in the it prefers to be planted in light shade where freezer for many months. Curry leaves can the brilliant, lemon-cream fl owers can be be used in their dried form, but their fl avour enjoyed throughout the summer months. is best when used fresh. Turmeric can be used either fresh or ground Possibly the most expensive spice in and will store many months if dried. Turmeric the world is saffron (Crocus sativus). This is one of the most ornamental species of delightful spice can bring dimension to a spices when in fl ower and there are now variety of dishes and remains one of the many different coloured fl owering forms world’s most expensive spices. Although available. diffi cult to grow in warmer districts, this Cardamom (Elletarria cardamomom) is small bulb thrives in cool climates. It a large, clumping plant up to 2 metres in produces purple or mauve fl owers at the Manufactured by: height, so make sure you give it space. end of winter or early spring. The spice 186 Glenmount Rd Native to Sri-Lanka, the fragrance of its actually comes from the tiny, bright orange Tanawha Q 4556 foliage will permeate rice dishes and is also stamens of these fl owers, which need Ph: (07) 5476 6245 great wrapped around fi sh or meat on the to be meticulously harvested by hand. Fax (07) 5445 6364 barbecue. Its highly fragrant seed pods are Planted into pots they make a delightful Available from all leading nurseries, garden centres, hardware and produce stores. 8 chillies also used in cooking. Grow it in a semi- fl oral display! 9 Jacaranda Illawarra fl ame tree Silky oak

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1305&$5*0/ 10 Note: It’s advisable to check your local council guidelines for any tree restrictions before making your selections. 11 Spring 2009 South-east Qld Sydney Melbourne Outback Temperate areas Cold & Southern Inland or arid areas Regional Garden Diary & Northern NSW Tableland areas Subtropical — Coastal Flowers Flowers Many flowers should have already Sow amaranthus, aster, Flowers been planted by September to North Queensland Sow alyssum, antirrhinum, aster, balsam, begonia, carnation, beat the heat. If planting flowers, Flowers begonia, carnation, celosia, Tropical — Wet & Dry Tropics chrysanthemum, cockscomb, use advanced pots to ensure DIARY MAP Sow ageratum, aster, balsam, chrysanthemum, cineraria, coleus, cosmos, dahlia, dianthus, a good flowering before the carnation, chrysanthemum, cockscomb, coleus, cornflower, everlasting daisy, gazania, gerbera, temperatures get too hot (by Flowers cockscomb, coleus, cosmos, dahlia, cosmos, dahlia, dianthus, foxglove, Sow ageratum, amaranthus, begonia, impatiens, marigold, nasturtium, November/December). Try petunia, dianthus, everlasting daisy, gazania, gazania, hollyhock, impatiens, chrysanthemum, cockscomb, coleus, petunia, phlox, Iceland poppy, vinca, cosmos, marigold, salvia, geranium, gerbera, impatiens, lobelia, marigold, petunia, salvia cosmos, dahlia, dianthus, everlasting portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, portulaca, nasturtium, torenia and kangaroo paw, marigold, nasturtium, and zinnia. snapdragon, sunflower, torenia, daisy, gazania, geranium, gerbera, petunia, portulaca, rudbeckia, zinnia. impatiens, kangaroo paw, marigold, verbena and zinnia. Mackay salvia, snapdragon, sunflower, Herbs nasturtium, petunia, portulaca, torenia, verbena and zinnia. Herbs Longreach Sow basil, chives, coriander, dill, Rockhampton rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon, Herbs All types of herbs grow well in this mint, oregano, parsley, sage and sunflower, torenia, verbena and zinnia. Basil, chives, coriander, dill, mint, area. Protect plants in late spring Herbs thyme. Blackall oregano, parsley, sage and thyme. Basil, chives, coriander, dill, mint, from heat. Inland areas have a Herbs oregano, parsley, sage and thyme. good climate for growing herbs. Plant basil, chilli, chives, dill, ginger, mint, Fruit & Vegetables Fruit and vegetables Sow beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, Warwick oregano and parsley. Sow beans, beetroot, broccoli, Vegetables Fruit & Vegetables capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, chilli, Look to start cutting back on Sow beans, beetroot, broccoli, celery, cucumber, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, growing vegetables by spring. You Fruit & Vegetables cabbage, capsicum, carrot, chicory, endive, leek, lettuce, onion, pak Plant beetroot, capsicum, carrot, eggplant, endive, lettuce, melons, can try beans, capsicum, onion, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, choi, pea, radicchio, silver beet, chilli, Chinese cabbage, choko, corn, okra, onion, parsnip, potato, radish and sweet corn. Cover or Newcastle eggplant, lettuce, melons, mustard, snow pea, spinach, spring onion, Orange cucumber, french beans, eggplant, pumpkin, radish, rhubarb, rosella, protect plants from the heat and onion, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, strawberry, sweet corn, zucchini leek, lettuce, onion, radish, rockmelon, silver beet, spring onion, squash, ensure you harvest by summer time. radish, rosella, silver beet, squash, and tomato. sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato Wodonga Tropical silver beet, spinach, squash, sweet sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato and zucchini. potato, pumpkin, tomato, watermelon and watermelon. More advice Sub tropical and zucchini. More advice... Spring is a great time to plant Apply mulch over all garden More advice... shrubs to ensure they acclimatise Temperate beds in preparation for warmer More advice... More advice... Plant fruit trees and vines. to conditions. Use mulch to keep Spray mangoes with Searles weather. If using a woody mulch, Cool Complete any digging or landscaping Divide clumping plants such as roots cool and help retain moisture. Mancozeb fungicide after flowering first dig in some Searles 5IN1 Plus work before the weather becomes too agapanthus, canna, liriope, iris and This is the perfect time to get lawns Arid to protect them from anthracnose or Blood & Bone to the soil. Repot hot. Divide cannas. Plant ornamental clivea. Protect seedlings from snails in order — weed, fertilise and sow — a common cause of fruit drop. indoor plants that have become trees. Prune established plants for and slugs. Remove spent flowers to lawns. Fertilise plants with Searles Spray passionfruit with Searles Bug root-bound. Wood, wine & art festival bushier growth — especially those induce new blooms. Recharge to boost plant growth for Beater, a natural pyrethrum spray to Proudly supported by which have just finished flowering. the summer. KILCOY RESIDENTS' SPECIAL EVENTS ASSOC. INC. control sucking and chewing pests. Fertilise and mulch well. Kilcoy Show Grounds

Saturday 12th Sept. 9am–8pm Allamanda 'Peach' New growth on Sunday 13th Sept. 9am–4pm Metrosideros 'Fiji Fire'. The best in local woodwork, wine, art, crafts and entertainment. SE Queensland Wine Tossing Championships. Disc Bowls teams wanted and trophies awarded. Saturday night campfi re concert and meal. Stalls wanted. Tickets at gate: $5 entry (per adult), extra $8 for overnight stay Hydrangea 'Machiko' ALL ZONES (per campsite) — includes camping & power, water, ALL ZONES Now is the time to plant plan toilets, showers etc. ALL ZONES hydrangeas, whose large, Email: [email protected] South Pacific native Metrosiderosid flamboyant flowers appear from ALL ZONES PO Box 173, KILCOY QLD 4515 (Metrosideros excelsa) is a tough A scarecrow is an essential addition to spring to summer. They make ALL ZONES Marg: 07 5498 1285 • Snow: 5497 1504 The hardy and versatile dipladeniaenia bbearsears performer in Aussie gardens. Red, any organic veggie patch, and a great excellent cut flowers, lasting more pom-pom like flowers are born in holiday project for the kids. The rules beautiful flowers for most of the year. than a week in a vase of water. Diminishing bushland (and old trees summer (it's also known as New of construction are pretty open and if They're also great in large (40cm) pots. Plant them in part shade in garden with hollows suitable for nesting) is Zealand Christmas bush) but just you use recycled materials, it need not Left alone, they will grow upward about beds or large tubs. Keep them increasingly preventing wild birds 30cm and then 'fall' down over the sides of as striking is its new foliage which be expensive. Two sturdy stakes, nailed well watered for best results. New from breeding. Most garden centres the pot. Supplied with a support, they will appears as fire-engine red leaves together firmly in a crucifix shape will bicoloured varieties have elegant, stock a range of nesting boxes, but behave as a climber. Pruning them can throughout the year (pictured). create a good framework for a free- white margins on the petals. make sure they're hung out the 12 'train' them into a pleasing, small shrub. standing scarecrow. of reach of cats. 13 Spring handy hints & tips

There's no time more exciting than spring — gardens Tropical are buzzing with new life, growth and colour and Sub tropical everything you plant seems to grow or bloom. There's so much to do, yet the balmy conditions make no Temperate ALL ZONES job seem too hard, and every chore a pleasure. Now Cool Plant strawberries in a sunnyy ppositionosition with is the time to delight in the pure joy of gardening. Arid good drainage. Dig in plentyyof of Searles 5IN1 Plus and Searles Real Compost, ALL ZONES preferably at least 2 weeks before ScaevolaScaevola oror fairfairyy ffana flower is a long- planting. Mulch well to control weeds lived,li d drought-hardyd ht h d native groundcover and keep the berries clean. Feed with with a mat-forming habit. Great as a Now is the time to plant plant Iceland Searles Fish & Kelp Plus every 2 weeks. weed suppressor and tolerant of frosts, poppies in cooler zones. Sow seed in each plant will cover about 3 square full sun and feed with Searles Fish & metres of ground. White and mauve- Kelp Plus until flowers start appearing. flowering varieties are available. After that, feed with Searles Liquid What bug is that? ALL ZONES Potash to promote flowering. They Princess Lily 'Theresa' make excellent cut flowers. Azalea lace bug ALL ZONES NowNooww is a great great t timtimeime to pplantlant beansbeans. If you're erecting a trellis, run it north- Growing your own appless is a greatgreat south, so all the plants get an equal way to keep fresh, crunchy produce share of both morning and afternoon on hand. Dwarf varieties are great sun. Such a setup will suit other warm for pots and small courtyards and in season, vine-grown produce like warmer zones, 'tropical' cultivars are cucumber and zucchini. now available which don't need as ALL ZONES many hours of chill. Cross-pollination ALL ZONES ALL ZONES is needed for good fruiting, so grow apple trees of different varieties, but Azalea lace bug (Stephanitis similar flowering times, side by side. The prettiness of Princess Lilies ALL ZONES pyrioides) affects azaleas (alstroemeria) belies their hardiness and rhododendrons. These SpringSpring isis a greatgreat titimeme ttoo plantplanttr treesees and drought tolerance. Great in Too avoid the use of pesticides, tiny insects feed on the plant's sap, and shrubs. The key to success is to For healthy plant growth through pots or garden beds, they flower caterpillarsaterpillars shouldhl be flicked off food causing unsightly mottling. In severe plant species that can easily reach the summer, give your garden almost year round in sun or shade crops and squashed on sight. These pests cases, it causes leaf-drop or death of adult size in the space you have for a generous dose of Searles and maintain their neat, rounded can do serious damage in a short period the plant. Check for early signs of it on them. Trees that grow well in your Kickalong Organic Plant Food shape even when not in flower. of time so peruse your garden regularly the undersides of leaves in spring and and use Searles Bug Beater (a natural neighbours' gardens are likely to also — Complete Garden. ALL ZONES control it with Searles Conguard. grow well in your own, so look around Sprinkle it over pyrethrump spray) for major outbreaks. your neighbourhood for ideas. everything — lawns, Garden centres are now brimmingmming with vegetables, fruit trees azaleas, perhaps the prettiestst ooff all sspringpring and garden beds. flowering plants. Plant them in semi-shade Do this just after rainy or on the eastern side of a building, wweather for best mulch well with plenty of compost and rresults. apply Searles Flourish Azalea, Camellia & What bug is that? Gardenia at the recommended rate.

Two-spotted mite on a camellia leaf.

ALL ZONES ALL ZONES ALL ZONES Anigozanthus ALL ZONES Mulberries will be forming on their 'Rampaging Roy Slaven' ALL ZONES ALL ZONES trees, now. Unlike raspberries and Plantlant kangaroo paw (an(anigozanthos)anthos) in a Two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) 'Dry White'™ is a mini eucalyptusalyptus boysenberries which prefer a cool It's very importantortant full sun position with excellent drainage. affects ornamentals, fruit trees and with fragrant, 'minty', foliage and HedgingHedging can bebeagrea a greatt gagardenrden climate, mulberries are hardy in whenever using a weed spray, to Feed fortnightly with Searles Fish & Kelp some vegetables. Affected leaves attractive grey bark. Very tough, it design tool. It's a good alternative most parts of Australia. If you're use it in conjunction with Searles Plus through the growing season. For best have a mottled appearance or can tolerates drought, frosts and second to fencing around a property's looking for something more unusual, Spredmax. This increases the results, mulch well and keep them moist be bronzed or shrivelled. Leave them to line coastal conditions. Feed with boundary, but it can also be useful for there's a form with white berries weedkiller's effectiveness by helping but not overwatered. Use Searles Native natural predators, but if the problem is Searles Kickalong Native Plant Food. 'sectioning-off' areas within a garden which are sweeter and have a it stick to the leaves of the weed. Plant Mix when growing in pots. severe, spray Searles Rose Pro. to create a sense of mystery, privacy more subtle flavour. 14 For more great hints and tips, visit the Searles website: www.searles.com.au or the illusion of space. Makes excellent cut flowers. 15 GARDEN, Ag & Pest SUPERWAY PRODUCTS PTY.LTD. (a quality assured company, proudly Australian owned and operated)

NEW! NEW! Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’ An exciting new bottlebrush with vibrant, hot pink fl owers which attract honey eating birds and bring your garden alive with an explosion of colour in spring. Hot NEW! Pink has compact growth which makes Callistemon ‘Hot Pink’ this native plant suitable for the modern garden. If desired, prune to size and shape after fl owering in spring and mulch well. Easy to grow with no major pest or disease problems. ‘Echo’ series daylilies The ‘Echo’ series of daylilies have been selected for their large fl owers on compact plants that will re-bloom after the main spring fl owering time. Flowers NEW! are produced in succession from spring Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’ through to autumn over clumps of strap- like leaves. Daylilies are hardy, easy to grow plants, preferring a sunny position in a moist, well drained soil. They will tolerate drought or rain, heat and cold and reward you with their attractive fl owers for minimal effort. Cleome ‘Senorita Rosalita’ NEW! This new beauty fl owers right through Grub, Ant & Pest NutriPaK is a How to use Superway spring, summer and autumn and in warm Controller: balanced fertiliser in climates, all year round. Senorita Rosalita Controls ants, an easy-to-use, liquid ‘squeeze & measure’ has lavender-pink fl owers held above spiders, product. Promotes cockroaches, vigorous growth and chamber bottles Echo Daylily ‘Wilsons Yellow’ the foliage. The showy fl owers have the lawn beetle, lawn greening. Contains added bonus of attracting birds and Most Superway products come grub, and organic manure and packaged in easy to use ‘squeeze & butterfl ies. Only growing to 50cm high armyworm in the PLANT FOOD seaweed extracts. measure’ chamber pack bottles. No PEST CONTROL makes it ideal for patio pots or garden home garden. Simply attaches to more messy measuring cups or spoons borders. Plant individually, grouped or as Available 250ml, 500ml hose. and no more risk of getting chemicals 1. Loosen the cap & 1litre chamber pack. a low hedge for a stunning display. This Available in concentrate or ready-to-use pack. on your hands. Just safely squeeze, above the measuring Cordyline ‘Caruba™ Black’ plant requires minimal watering once measure, pour into a watering or spray established, is easy to grow with no major Delta-M: is a non Weedkiller: pack, apply water and use! chamber. pest or disease issues. Plant in a sunny staining residual provides effective insecticide, for the position, mulch well and prune, if desired, control of most control of spiders, during the warmer months. broadleaf weeds cockroaches, and grasses. 1 litre fleas, ants, of concentrate’ Cordyline ‘Caruba™ Black’ silverfish, flies and HERBICIDE Makes up to 100 Caruba™ Black is a showy new foliage mosquitoes. Available in 250ml to 20 Litres of ready-to- HOUSEHOLD PESTS Available in 250ml, 500ml litres and 1 litre 'ready- plant grown for its vivid shiny purple-black to-use' spraypack. use weedkiller. foliage and compact growth. In cooler and 1 litre packs. areas Caruba™ Black can be grown Superway as an indoor plant or patio feature. In Dimethoate 300: Is a systemic insecticide P.O. Box 183, sub-tropical and tropical areas Caruba™ which provides effective control of a range Beerwah Qld 4519 2. Gently squeeze 3. Remove lid from 4. Add required Black is an outstanding garden plant of insect pests (including fruit fly, aphids, the bottle to make measuring chamber amount of water leaf miner and thrips) on fruit trees and Ph: (07) 5439 0355 providing a striking contrast with other the chemical flow and pour contents and apply as other plants in and around the garden. Fax: (07) 5439 0366 into the measuring into measuring can/ directed. tropical foliage. Easy to grow with no Available in 250ml, 500ml and 1 litre chamber pack. GARDEN PESTS www.superway.com.au chamber. spray can. major pest or disease problems and no pruningprun required unless desired. 16 Echo Daylily ‘Bright Copper’ Echo Daylily ‘Lemon Yellow’ Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Trade enquiries welcome. 17 Sweet corn... How to plant Sweet corn can be planted from late pollinate themselves more effectively if can also attack the corn as it begins to spring until early autumn throughout grown in blocks rather than in rows of ripen. If necessary, protect the cobs with Australia and all year round in the plants. Sow the seed directly into the soil individual bags. tropics. Sweet corn can be purchased and water well. Always plant seed to the as seed of which there are many depth and spacing recommended on Companion planting varieties, or seedlings which come in a the packet. If planting out seedlings, Beans, cucumbers, potato, pumpkin, limited range. It is important to bear in make sure the root ball is anchored well radish, summer squash and zucchini are mind that only one variety of corn into the soil. Keep moist and well- good companion plants for sweet corn. should be cultivated in the garden at mulched. any one time as cross-pollination can Harvesting adversely affect the quality of your crop. How to maintain As the corn ripens, the silk tassels which Blocks of a dozen or more plants, grown Sweet corn demand a lot of water. hang from the top of each cob turn at three-monthly intervals should provide However, it is important to keep the cobs dark brown. To test whether the corn is a continual supply of food for the dry as they mature, so water only the ripe enough to eat, peel back a small average family. roots and avoid watering the foliage section of the papery casing and break and developing cobs. As the tall stems open a kernel with your fingernail. If the Where to plant develop they often produce roots liquid that comes out is clear the corn is Blocks of sweet corn demand space, so above the ground. Build a layer of mulch not ripe; if it is milky it can be harvested plant them where they will not be up around these to prevent them from immediately. crowded out by other species. They drying out. To make best use of the need deep, rich soil, and a sunny space taken up by a block of sweet position in a wind-protected area. Sweet corn, ‘living mulch’ vegetables such as Garden helpers... corn is one of the few vegetables that cucumbers and pumpkins can be can tolerate boggy soil providing the planted between the corn and allowed site is in a hot position. to spread around them. Planting method Pests and diseases Dig the soil deep — at least 30cm — Watch for aphids, borers and caterpillars incorporating generous amounts of of the corn earworms in the tops of the Searles 5IN1 Plus to promote cobs and spray with pyrethrum if the 18 lush growth. Sweet corn infestation is bad. Birds, bats and rodents 19 Spring rose care Pruning Generally, roses should be An excellent organic fertiliser is pruned back by two-thirds Searles 5IN1 Plus. Dig this gently in winter but if you haven’t into the soil around the drip done this by early spring, a line (being careful not to let it gentle pruning to remove touch the stems of the plant) dead branches and excess and water it in well. On roses, straggly growth should suffi ce. Searles 5IN1 Plus should be reapplied every 6–8 weeks for Feeding best results. When new foliage starts to appear, feed roses with Watering Searles Flourish Soluble Plant Roses also need plenty of water Food, reapplying it every and should never be allowed two weeks. Roses are greedy to dry out. How often you water feeders and Searles Flourish depends on the weather, but will give them the surge of twice weekly during spring nutrients they need for strong is a good guide. This can be growth and fl owering. Searles increased to once every Flourish is sometimes called second day during summer a ‘foliar fertiliser’ because its or in very hot, dry weather. Try nutrients are conducive to to avoid directly watering the being absorbed through the foliage and fl owers. Applying a plant’s leaves. This method thick layer of mulch is essential of feeding is sometimes and a good way to prevent the favoured as it results in the soil from drying out. Fabulous new release garden scene. Due to its Information with special thanks to Tony Stallwood fast uptake of nutrients by Petunia Raspberry Blast has vigorous, yet restrained from the Queensland Rose Society Rose ‘Elle’ the plant. Ideally, roses should Pest control improved performance growth, one plant can be given suffi cient space When new growth starts and colours and really replace up to 10 normal for their root system, but in appearing in spring, keep an will stop you in your tracks petunias, making a situations where their roots eye out for aphids as they love with its pure ‘WOW’ factor. considerable cost saving. new growth and are likely to The vibrant blooms of this are crowded by other plants, Being such a vigorous make an appearance. Blast fl amboyant little darling are foliar feeding can avoid the grower it is also a hungry Ants in yer pants? them off with water when you pink, edged with deep cerise problems associated with root feeder, so a fortnightly see them or spray with Searles violet. A prolifi c bloomer, Say goodbye to nasty critters competition. Always dissolve application of Searles Bug Beater, a natural pyrethrum the 5-6cm fl owers cover the Searles Flourish in water at Flourish Soluble Plant Food with David Grays pest control. spray. Black spot and powdery entire plant from early spring the recommended rate, or a single application of mildew can be controlled with right through to the fi rst harsh following instructions carefully. Searles Robust Plus slow Applications of Searles Searles Mancozeb Plus. It’s frosts of winter. best to spray this on roses every release plant food at Flourish can be alternated No more petunias that planting time will reward you with or replaced with Searles 10–14 days as a preventative measure, rather than wait for clump — this new plant with strong, healthy growth. Fish & Kelp Plus, an organic on the block has a low, fungal infections to appear. The other major advantage alternative. spreading habit. With a of Petunia Raspberry Blast height of 15cm and a spread is that it loves the heat. In of up to 1 metre, Petunia the recent heat wave that Raspberry Blast is referred to Did you know? struck much of southern as a ‘living mulch’, shading Australia, plantings of Roses have very similar the ground the same way Petunia Raspberry Blast growing requirements a mulch does. This not only fl ourished and kept gardens to grapes. Roses were keeps the soil cool and looking green and colourful. Use David Grays’ White Oil traditionally grown moist, it helps suppress weed to control scale insects in vineyards as an growth, reduces soil erosion So if you need to add a on fruit trees, shrubs and indicator species to and promotes the health blanket of colour to your vines. David Grays’ Antex allow wine growers to and vigor of plants growing garden landscape, create avoid using fungicide controls ants, cockroaches, nearby. a trailing effect down an treatments when it embankment or garden fleas, spiders and silverfish. Petunia Raspberry Blast wasn’t necessary. wall or create a stunning See package instructions for Rose ‘Kalinka’ will quickly cover bare soil more information. Being slightly more container or hanging basket between shrubs and other susceptible to mildew, the roses would develop this moment then Petunia plants. This can create a condition about 2 days before the grapes would which Raspberry Blast is the truly AVAILABLE FROM ALL LEADING NURSERIES, bold landscaping statement, allowed farmers time to spray the grape vines before exceptional ‘WOW’ plant to GARDEN CENTRES & HARDWARE STORES. reforming bare earth into they were harmed by the disease. look out for this spring. a lush and healthy green 20 21 Stuffed capsicums

INGREDIENTSINGREDIENTS • 3 large capsicums (1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green) halved, seeds removed • 5 tbs sliced black olives • 250g cherry tomatoes, quartered • 100g mushrooms, fi nely chopped • 2 shallots, fi nely chopped • 1 tsp minced garlic • 1 tsp dried or ¼ cup fresh oregano • 1 tsp dried or ½ cup torn fresh basil • ¾ cup cooked cous cous • 1 ½ cups grated parmesan • Salt and pepper • Olive oil spray

METHOD Preheat oven to 200˚C. (180˚C for fan forced).

Place capsicums, open side up, on a baking tray.

Mix other vegetables, minced garlic, herbs, cous cous and half a cup of the parmesan in a bowl, then spoon into the capsicum halves. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle remaining parmesan over the top and spray capsicums lightly with olive oil spray.

Bake in oven for 25–30 minutes.

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ISSUE 48 ning hints

For more gardening hints & tips, visit Protect herbs, vegetables, trees and shrubs from possums, kangaroos, wallabies, rabbits, hares, Name: ...... bandicoots, deer, foxes and other wildlife. Age: 25–35 36–45 46–55 55+ Protect vegetables, fruit trees, ornamentals, seedlings and buildings from cockatoos, crows, ducks, pigeons, rosellas, Address: ...... starlings, swallows, other birds & bats. City: ...... State: ...... P/code: ...... Protects homes, gardens, patios, shop fronts and paved Phone: ...... Fax: ...... areas from both dogs and cats or rats and mice. Protect one plant or a whole area — perimeter Email: ...... &/or band sprays. Enclosed is a cheque for: Repels — without harming animals or humans. 1 year ($18.00) 2 years ($30.00) Not considered a poison — no withholding period. OR charge this to my: Easy to use — spray on. Effective when dry. Safe, Proven and Effective. Visa Mastercard Available in 100g, 1Kg & 4Kg Sizes. Card no: is unique. Reject products said to be "just as

Card holder’s name:...... Expiry date: ...... good", nothing is at all "like it". For further information send GG20-260/02 2x55c stamps to: Signature: ...... D-ter, Dept. A, PO Box 3, Oyster Bay, NSW 2225. Please send this form to: Phone: (07) 5497 2313 Enquiries: Phone: (02) 9589 0703. Fax: (02) 9589 0147 About the Garden Fax: (07) 5497 2287 P.O. Box 70 Kilcoy Qld 4515 Email: [email protected] www.aboutthegarden.com.au 22 Spr 09 23 w ww .searles.com.au

Watch gardens burst into life. Rapid response. Great results. Searles Flourish®.

Ask for Searles Flourish at your nearest gardeningening outlet or phone: (07) 5497 20222022