Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2015 i The Gardener Magazine

GET THE LOOK Achieve a lush and leafy rose bed, with an abundance of buds and blooms, by planting hybrid tea roses 60-80 cm apart. Follow this up with a regular routine of rose care – watering 2-3 times a week in summer, spraying for pests and disease twice a month, and fertilising once a month. A border of pansies hides the base of the rose stems and adds to the colourful effect. For a similar effect one could use roses such as ’Ann Wrighton’, ‘Christa Steyn’, ‘Filiae Regis’, ‘Ingrid Kast’, ‘Kathleen van Rhyn’, ‘Peach Princess’, ‘Arlene’ and ‘Naughty Nude’. All perform well as showy garden roses, yet double up to produce enough blooms for picking. Finger pruning helps to spread out the flowering. The best new picking roses for…

Good to know Don’t plant tomatoes or brinjals next to potatoes. They are closely related and are vulnerable to the same pests and diseases. Alternating tomatoes with brinjals or peppers is not crop rotation either – they are all fruiting vegetables with the same requirements. Nor is it effective to just rest the soil over winter, because this does not break the cycle, especially of pathogens latent in the soil. Put plastic bottles to good use Two-litre plastic cool drink bottles are ideal for veggies that need deep watering. Place a bottle on either side of the plant, with the necks buried in the soil as near as possible to root level and with the bases cut off. Fill the bottles with water as needed. Not a drop of water…

R 16 each Brighten up those bare patches in your flower beds with 15 cm pots of colour. R 60 each New Bio Genic All-Purpose fertiliser is a must in your shopping trolley for slow-release food for the whole garden. R 198 each Make storage of your hosepipe easy with the new Xpanda self-expanding hose. R 450 each Lawn edges are tackled in a flash with the Trimtech Electric Trimmer. R 35 a pair Garden in style with floral nitrile gloves in a range of colours and patterns. Prices valid until 1 November. T&Cs apply…

The ‘Iceberg’ family of floribunda roses is renowned for its outstanding garden performance. Available both as bushes and standards, the plants bloom prolifically from spring through to autumn, adding an almost continuous floral display to the landscape. Furthermore, they’re vigorous growers and relatively disease resistant compared to many other roses. All of these roses look the part in formal gardens, and yet are just as successful in cottage-style landscapes. They certainly are versatile and effective. Today many colour variations of the ever-popular white form are grown. These are the three top sellers here in South Africa. ‘Iceberg’ is reputed to be the most popular rose around the world, and is certainly the biggest-selling rose in the local garden trade. Strong, sturdy plants grow to a height of 1.5 m, sometimes…

As spring approaches, most gardeners get the urge to plant. Pots and containers are a rich and rewarding way to improve your planting skills and enrich the appearance of your garden. They are quick, simple and easy to put together using the correct plants and a little artistic flair. Here are three effective plant combinations, all put together in the same size terracotta pot. (The pot we used is 40 cm across and 35 cm deep.) So that you can replicate these recipes at home, we’ve made sure that most of the plants are readily available, but if you can’t find these exact plants ask your friendly nursery or garden centre to assist you with suitable alternatives. All three options need to grow in full sun for optimum results. Pot…

1 kg pumpkin, chopped 1 orange, cut in half 500 ml stock A bunch of fresh thyme Salt and pepper Biltong, chopped If you are using a whole pumpkin, carefully cut a circle out of the top of the fruit – angle the knife inwards towards the centre so the ‘lid’ comes out intact and can be used later. Scoop out the pumpkin flesh – a corer and spoon work well for this task. Steam the pumpkin flesh with the orange until it is soft. Remove the orange and squeeze all the juice into a blender. Add the pumpkin and some stock and blend in batches. Place the soup in a saucepan and reheat. Add fresh thyme leaves and check the seasoning. When it is just right, pour the soup…

Garden tasks Apply diluted liquid fertiliser to newly planted or transplanted seedlings. Control weeds, as they compete for water and food. Mulch under tomatoes, brinjals, peppers, and squashes, to keep the roots cool and moist. Water more frequently as it gets warmer. Seed beds should never dry out while seeds are germinating. Cut and come again lettuce After the plants are cut, don’t let the roots dry out. Water regularly, mulch and weed. When the stubs resprout, fertilise with a liquid fertiliser that is high in nitrogen. Feed at twice weekly intervals until the plant is ready for cutting again. 5 minutes to spare Check your veggies for pests, especially under the leaves, and be ready to spray with organic insecticides as soon as they are noticed. 10 minutes to…

KWAZULU-NATAL Tuesday 1 September – Monday 30 November Stihl Open Gardens The colourful gardens of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands will be celebrated in the spring Stihl Open Gardens this September, October and November. Enquiries: www.stihl.co.za, or email Gail (gail@spottedowl.co.za) for a full listing of the open gardens. Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 October Kloof Rotary Anns Open Gardens 2015 Six open gardens are on show in the Kloof and Hillcrest areas, including a large estate and two small complex gardens. Refreshments and garden paraphernalia will be on sale at the Highbury Centenary Hall. Enquries: Wendy Scorgie 083 661 7337, www.rotarykloof.org.za Garden No 1 – Rob and Shawna Thunder, 2 Churchill Road, Winston Park An indigenous garden that makes you feel like you’re in the bushveld. Garden No 2 – Brian…

Whilst the waning moon phase is best to clear and cut back, note the 'fertile' Sunday for planting/transplanting, just before New Moon; perfect for perennial herbs, flowering shrubs and trees, either in pots or directly in the ground. Also to sow fragrant flower seeds, like alyssum in situ. The last and first quarter moon phases are exact after sunset and lunar gardeners avoid planting on these days.The full moon is excellent for planting all edibles, especially fruit veg (like tomatoes and peppers) and root veg and bulbs.…

Any bride-to-be will tell you that she walks many psychological and physical miles before that magical day dawns when she pulls metres of lace and satin over her head and stares at herself in the mirror with awe and wonder. But is it really necessary for her mother to go on this journey with her? When my first-born decided to get hitched, I reached the point when I actually begged her and her fiancé to elope. My suggestion was to celebrate nuptials dressed only in a tiny Speedo and a polka dot bikini! I was willing to make a substantial donation towards a long honeymoon on an exotic island where folks are always scantily clothed, instead of a traditional wedding with all the trimmings. I promised to keep my mouth…

Succulent plants are gaining in popularity as water becomes scarcer and more costly. Their ability to withstand long dry periods and yet still make a spectacular show in the garden is being appreciated more and more. Amongst the wide range of succulent plants in cultivation, kalanchoes must rank as amongst the most colourful and diverse of them all. The leaf sizes, structures and colours of the many different species vary enormously, while flowers are often bright and colourful, adding to the interest and allure of these fleshy-leaved plants. Kalanchoes are easy to propagate from cuttings and require minimal care and attention in the garden. Full sun is their preferred growing position, although some can grow quite successfully in light shade. Well-drained soil is another important prerequisite for happy kalanchoes. Use…

Roses and herbs have always been fragrant companions, the aromatic foliage of herbs complementing the fruity perfume of deeply scented roses and playing the role of protector, repelling the pests that target rose blooms. There is no reason why roses shouldn’t be part of the food garden. Fragrant red roses, in particular, and those that produce hips in autumn, have culinary and healing properties too. Rose hips are rich in vitamin C and nothing beats soothing rose petal water or the taste of rose petal jam! There are many ways to combine herbs, roses and vegetables. Consider using herbs as clipped formal hedges, interplanted with roses in mixed beds, or as romantic borders in the flower garden. A classical combination: roses and lavender This is a popular combination, even though…

WHAT YOU WILL NEED: Sandpaper Woodoc Deep Penetrating Weatherproof Wax Tools Sanding block or electric sander, paintbrush or clean rag 1 Sand down your piece of furniture, ensuring that you get into all the nooks and crannies. Dust it off. 2 Shake your bottle of Woodoc liquid wax well. In cold temperatures there might be some obvious white sediment in the wax – if this is the case, place the bottle of Woodoc in a bowl of hot water to warm the wax and dissolve the sediment. Apply the wax to your piece of furniture with a paintbrush or rag, ensuring thorough coverage . Note In dry areas, you may need to apply wax more frequently and more liberally. Reapply whenever your wooden furniture is looking dry.…

EASTERN CAPE Saturday 10 Grahamstown Flower Festival Oatlands Preparatory School, African Street www.grahamstownflowerfestival.co.za FREE STATE Thursday 22 – Sunday 25 Mangaung Rose Festival 2015 Enquiries: www.mangaungrosefestival. co.za, info@mangaungrosefestival.co.za GAUTENG Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 Bonsai Exhibition and sales RJM Hall in Randjes Estate, Randjeslaagte Road, Highlands North Enquiries: Errol 083 419 3109, bonsai@pixie.co.za Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 Little Falls EPI Nursery Show Little Falls EPI Nursery, 11 Hardekool Street, Sundowner Enquiries: Sylvia Healey 011 795 1272, 082 773 7083 Friday 23 – Sunday 25 Spring Orchid Show The Floreum, Emmarentia Botanical Gardens 09:00 – 16:00 daily. Pensioners get free entry on 23 October. Enquiries: Marinus 082 447 5081 Saturday 31 Talk: Wild flowers and birds in the garden Fourways Fuchsia Club meeting Colourful Corner Nursery, c/o Christiaan de…

Walk through breathtaking, interlinking herb gardens, meet herbal experts, relax at the outdoor Herb Café, and browse through the herb market at the Herb Happening, from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November at the Healthy Living Herbs farm in Midrand. A fragrant walkway welcomes visitors to the Herb Happening, and pathways lead off to an indigenous herb garden, a container herb garden, healing herb spiral, fragrant rose garden, and herb collections planted according to different themes (Italian herbs, savoury herbs, sweet herbs, healing herbs, etc.). There will also be a monastic herb garden, and a lavender walk leading to the herb market, featuring 15 different types of lavender. During the weekend, herbal experts will offer guided walks every two hours through the herb spiral, which is based on the…