Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i The Gardener Magazine

This period of restricted movement we’re living through has had some advantages. One good thing is that I actually get to see plants grow, come into bud and flower! Just this morning I was greeted by a lonesome little yellow daffodil, in a bed surrounded by dwarf blue agapanthus. “Shame,” I thought. “You must feel rather alone.” And that’s what happens with bulbs, and many other plants I admit; we plant or sow, enjoy them for a while and forget about them. Then, to our great surprise, we see that they made it through the entire following season without our intervention or even our strong words, prayers, burning of incense or whatever your tactic may be. Nature simply kicks in and does its thing! This issue is so packed with…

It’s not just the plants that give me such pleasure, Deep in my garden lies its real hidden treasure. I use my garden to grow my soul, To anchor my roots, to make me whole; To understand how good it can feel To weed out life’s trivia, to nurture what’s real; To connect with nature, finding peace in its earth, So how can I value what my garden is worth?  www.thepoetryoftonygraham.com The five garden rooms knit together thanks to cleverly positioned pathways and gates. Knowing the micro-climate of each section means that Tony and Lesley can place plants where they will thrive. Focal points with plant combinations and pots create pauses while you meander around the garden.…

The Cape chestnut or wildekastaiing is the only member of the genus Calodendrum and belongs in the Buchu family (Rutaceae). It is found from the southern Cape to Limpopo in South Africa, and is widespread in tropical Africa. This small to large evergreen or deciduous tree grows 7 – 20m high, occurring in forests and wooded gorges. It has a hard wood with a smooth, grey bark, a single trunk, and an upright or spreading canopy. The large, glossy green leaves have wavy margins and are aromatic when bruised, and from late spring to early summer (October to December) the whole tree becomes covered with clusters of large white or light pink blooms with long, narrow petals with purplish maroon bases. The petals alternate with light pink sterile stamens marked…

Being compact and neat, phlox plants are a great choice for filling a sunny bed or making a tidy border. They are great in containers too. These unfussy plants produce masses of dazzling flowers that last well when picked. Mixes of blue, scarlet and white, or pink and white, stand out best if planted against a plain background. Cut back after flowering for bushier plants and a new flush of flowers. Plant in full sun to partial shade, in ordinary garden soil (not too fertile), and water regularly. Fertilise once during the season because too much fertiliser produces leafy plants with few flowers.…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbage, capsicums, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, marrows, mealies, melons, parsnips, peas, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes, turnips Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbage, capsicums, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, mealies, melons, parsnips, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes, turnips Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal coast Asparagus, bush and runner beans, brinjals, capsicums, cucumbers, mealies, radishes Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Beetroot, brinjals, cabbage, capsicums, carrots, cucumbers, celery, lettuce, marrows, mealies, melons, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes Northern Cape and Great Karoo Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, capsicums, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, mealies, melons, parsnips, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes,…

There seems to be doubt about the correct spelling of this West African plant’s botanical name, Clerodendrum thomsoniae, so we’ll just refer to it as the bleeding-heart vine or glory bower – both apt common names for this old-fashioned ‘sun room’ plant so loved by our grandmas. This is a tropical vining plant with tendrils that help it to cling to trellises and the like. Left unchecked it can reach a natural height of 4m, although you can prune it to make it bushy or plant it in a hanging basket where it can cascade downwards. It blooms in spring and summer. The leaves are large, oval and a shiny dark green, and the dazzling flowers with heart-shaped white calyxes dripping blood-red petals appear in clusters from leaf axils. Aging…

• Dig up the clumps and shake off the dirt, and they will fall apart easily to expose the rhizomes. • Choose rhizomes with a section of root and stem (preferably a fresh shoot) attached, and cut off old leaves and stems. • Prepare the soil beforehand, adding lots of compost, mature kraal manure (if you have it available), bonemeal and a dusting of slow-release fertiliser formulated for fruit and flowers. Cannas are gross feeders! • Replant the divisions immediately and not too deeply, and add a layer of mulch around them, then water well. • Flowering should commence 6 – 8 weeks later.…

Jasminum polyanthum (Chinese jasmine) This evergreen, vigorous climber is perfect to use near windows or braai areas so that its spring perfume can be enjoyed by all. It grows best in sun or light shade and loves well-drained, compost-enriched soil. Water needs are average when established. Chinese jasmine flowers from late winter and into spring, with many heads of sweetly scented flowers. Its pink buds open into small, white, star-like flowers that are edible. As it is a strong-growing climber you will need to support it with a trellis or allow it to ramble over other shrubs in a garden. It also works well when planted next to a fence or helped up an unsightly wall, and forms a good cover over water tanks and other utilities. To keep this…

Besides commonly grown Cape gooseberries and strawberries, the range of exotic berries that we can now grow includes three different fruiting seasons of blueberries (early, mid and late season fruiting), black and red raspberries, tayberry (a cross between blackberry and raspberry), thornless blackberry, black currant, cranberry and goji berry, known to be a superfood. Most berries need cold winters, and for a long time it was difficult for gardeners to grow them other than in the Cape, says Linda Wainman of Just Berry Plants. New varieties, however, are being introduced for sub-tropical areas, and some berry producers are acclimatising young plants by growing them in tunnels for the first 18 months so that the plants establish strong roots before being made available to gardeners. Another hurdle has been the specific…

If you choose to grow-asparagus, where you decide to grow these rewarding vegetables is important as the plants will occupy the same site for many years. Although you can only start harvesting asparagus spears after 3 years, they will provide harvests every spring from then on. Using your harvest will be easy enough, with many ways to include the vegetable in meals like salads and soups. Then there’s the popular asparagus and ham quiche topped with strong cheese; braaied or grilled asparagus served with lemon or (our favourite way) grilled and served with poached egg, grilled salmon and hollandaise sauce. An abundance of asparagus needs a little more attention, and freezing will be your best option. Although canning is the obvious choice, it does require specialised equipment and the once…

We’ve found… A cordon bleu bush bean bred in Africa for African conditions. ‘Sibaya’ is a French fine bean that yields slim, straight beans within 60 days from sowing. It is a MayFord Seed variety. In frost-free areas it can be sown in winter and spring, and in highveld areas in spring and summer. It is a high-yielding, disease-resistant variety. Checklist • At the beginning of September sow root crops, cabbage, lettuce and peas, and plant seed potatoes. From mid-September sow green beans, squashes (zucchini/patty pans) and Swiss chard. By end-September sow fruiting veggies. • Increase watering as it becomes warmer. • Remove weeds by hand. Five minutes a day keeps weeds at bay. • As potato stems emerge, earth up the soil around the plant and keep doing this…

You can set your calendar by the Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum). It will emerge in spring, bloom all summer long and then let you know autumn is due by asking for a good trimming back before going dormant in winter. The stems are sturdy and strong, and the pure white petals surrounding a sunny yellow centre will cheer up perennial beds and simply shine in pots. Modern varieties, like the iconic Leucanthemum ‘Daisy Mae’, have large blooms above dark green leaves – a strong and carefree perennial to plant in a mass. In a nutshell • Full sun or morning sun and afternoon shade; • Well-draining soil; • Medium water needs; • Feed with an organic, slow-release fertiliser, and apply a good mulch.…

✓ Stop snails in their tracks by putting out snail bait. Don’t scatter the granules all over the place, and on dry soil. Rather place little heaps here and there in spots where the snails might be hiding, like between rocks and under big leaves, after you have watered your garden or it has rained. ✓ If your bedding begonias from last summer have been frost-damaged, simply cut them back to remove the damaged parts and dose back to health with a soluble fertiliser. Do this after all danger of late frost has passed. ✓ Many indigenous perennials and groundcovers flower profusely in gentle spring weather. Most of these old favourites have been hybridised intensely to enlarge the range of Arctotis (African daisy), Diascia (twin spur), Gazania (treasure flower) and…

The gardens of Stone Cottage in Bedford are the culmination of a long personal and physical journey by the owners, Tony and Lesley. They relocated to South Africa from the UK in 2009, but it was only in 2016 that they moved to the Karoo and found the home they had been looking for. Compared to the 13 acres they gardened in the UK, Stone Cottage sits on a tiny piece of land, only 1100m2. However, as Tony and Lesley are not the spring chickens they used to be and as they always do everything in the garden themselves, a smaller property makes more sense. What really appealed to the couple, apart from the location, was that the cottage sits in the exact centre of the plot, so the garden…

The genus Hoya contains between 200 and 300 different species. In addition, there are also lots of hybrids and cultivars of certain species, making it an incredibly diverse group of plants. Hoya plants go by numerous different names: wax flower, wax plant, wax creeper, wax vine, porcelain flower and Mary’s tears, to name just a few. These plants have a home range that stretches from India in the west to China in the east, and reaches downward through Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, through all the Southeast Asian islands and even extends to the northern parts of Australia. Because of this wide distribution range, which includes many different habitats, these plants have varying growing requirements, which we need to keep in mind when we want to keep them here in South…

Limonium sinuatum, commonly known as statice or sea lavender, plays an important roll in the cut flower industry because it has such a long vase life and travels well. It can be useful in the garden if you need a bit of height in flower beds, and the plants produce clouds of tiny papery flowers in summer. They prefer a sunny position in well-draining soil and are fairly drought tolerant once established but will do better with regular watering. To dry the flowers, cut stalks, tie them together and hang them upside down in a cool place to dry. The ‘QIS’ series comes in a variety of colours and offers improved colour, uniformity and quality.…

Do this: • Fill up a deep seedling tray with moist commercial seedling mix and tamp it down gently. • Dahlia seeds are quite large, so space them out about 2.5cm apart, pressing them lightly into the soil. • Spread a 3mm layer of the moist seedling mix over the seeds and water gently with a fine rose spray. • Place your seedling tray in a propagator or place it in a clear plastic bag, then inflate it and tie it securely. The seeds must be kept in a shady but warm spot – ideally at a temperature of about 18°C. Germination can be as fast as 10 – 14 days. • As soon as the leaves start touching each other it is time to replant them into small individual…

Lavender Lavender is one of those year-round herbs that is sometimes taken for granted until it flowers in spring. Lavandula stoechas is the showiest, with large purple flowers topped with purple bracts that look like wings. Lavandula dentata (grey or green foliage) has large purple-blue flowers and is good for containers or as a low-growing hedge or filler, or in front of taller lavender. The most popular lavender is Lavandula x intermedia ‘Margaret Roberts’, which flowers continually and may grow large. All lavenders grow best in a sunny position, in well-composted soil that drains well. Prevent lavender from getting woody by cutting back by two thirds after flowering. Besides its soothing fragrance and beautiful flowers, lavender has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that make it an excellent first aid herb for…

Fine seed like that of carrots and lettuce, as well as small seed like that of broccoli, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, radishes and parsnips, is easier to sow and manage if sown in rows. Find the right spot, based on whether the plants need full sun or semi-shade (like lettuce in summer). • Loosen the soil down to 30cm. Break up soil clumps so that growing tips can easily push up through the soil. Remove large sticks and stones and add plenty of compost. • Rake the soil until it is level and the texture is fine, which ensures better germination. Water and leave overnight for sowing the next day when the soil is still damp, but not wet. • Use a stick, rake or broom handle to draw a shallow…

What you need An old bar stoolA piece of slateA large terracotta pot4 x 45mm wood screwsWoodoc Wood ReviverWoodoc 45 Tile and Cement SealerWoodoc 30 Exterior Polywax Sealer Steps 1. Sand down an old barstool. 2. Use Woodoc Wood Reviver as per the instructions: it comes with the brush, gloves and wooden spatula. 3. Using the scrubbing brush, work the Woodoc Wood Reviver into the wood. 4. Rinse off the Wood Reviver with water. Allow the wood to dry completely. 5. Seal the piece of slate and the pot with Woodoc 45 Tile and Cement Sealer, according to the instructions. 6. Lightly sand down the stool again, then apply 3 coats of Woodoc 30 Exterior Polywax Sealer. 7. Place the piece of slate on top of the stool where the…

I’ve never really had a sweet tooth and in the past seldom drank cool drinks, ate cake or even the puddings that I often baked for others. I can actually bake more than three dozen pancakes (from an eight-egg recipe) in one go without even thinking of eating the first flop, which is lying in a puddle of cinnamon sugar and was the victim of having to wait for the pan to ‘bake in’, as they say. But lately the situation has changed. This is probably because the authorities keep thinking of ways to deprive us of more and more things as the days go by, arrogantly thinking that they know what’s best for us plebs. Without my usual ‘fixes’, I sometimes started craving sweet things. To my shame, I…