Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2021 i The Gardener Magazine

1 The urban dweller Mesembryanthemum cordifolium(previously Aptenia cordifolia) can often be seen growing between cracks in urban spaces and along disturbed areas. It is also commonly known as the baby sun rose. The bright green succulent leaves are heart-shaped, and the small flowers in red or deep purple appear from spring to autumn. Two reasons to plant this groundcover are: its willingness to grow and flower well in light shade under trees, and its resilience to brackish water. 2 In flower for longer! Ice plants (vygies), of which we have many species, are gorgeous when in flower in early spring, but the joy is unfortunately short-lived and then you are left with fairly tatty, long-legged plants. Delosperma cooperi (Cooper’s ice plant) is a summer-rainfall species that flowers from early spring to…

Bonsai growers often ask me for advice. Without even looking at their trees I can give them the most valuable advice they will ever get: “Water your plants!” Folks, it is that simple. Without water your plants will shrivel up and die. Yes, we all know this instinctively, but you would be astonished as to how many miniature deserts I get shown. Deserts of dried sand where not even weeds can survive, and in the middle the husk of a once-spectacular bonsai given as a present. “But the bonsai is outside,” he says. I point out that it was standing under the eaves of his house, where it would never even get a sprinkling of dew, let alone rain. All living creatures use water as a transport mechanism to move…

Protect plants from powdery mildew during humid, wet weather by spaying with an organic fungicide like EcoBuz Disease Pro. Water early in the morning during hot, dry weather. Renew mulch around vegetables to keep the soil cool. Fertilise fruiting crops and boost heat-stressed veggies with a foliar feed of Kelpak or Seagro, which act as a tonic. Manage pests like whitefly, aphids and red spider mites with a weekly spray of an organic insecticide such as EcoBuz Pest Pro. Pull out weeds. Stake tomatoes, brinjals and peppers, and support branches that are heavy with fruit.…

Fennel is a fine culinary herb, an eye-catching feature plant and an excellent companion plant that lures aphids away from other plants. It is a perennial that likes well-drained soil and will thrive in full sun or morning sun. It can grow up to 2m tall. Butterflies and beneficial predator insects like hoverflies and wasps love fennel’s yellow flowers, which also attract aphids. Cut plants back when the leaves start to fade and the plants will shoot up again. Fennel leaves add a subtle aniseed flavour to fish, poultry and vegetables as well as spicy Indian and Italian dishes. Use seeds and leaves to soothe red eyes, alleviate indigestion and colic in infants, reduce nausea and as a mild laxative. Don’t plant fennel with dill, beans, peppers or tomatoes. Try…

If you’re lucky enough to have enough space to grow sweet melons, also known as spanspek or cantaloupe, you are bound to have plenty of melons that may be in need of preserving for leaner months. Planted in spring and summer, sweet melon fruit forms on a rambling vine and will be ready to harvest in four months. Melons are ready to harvest when they have a fruity aroma, a slight softening of the rind and a hollow sound when knocked. They don’t ripen off the vine so need to be checked often. Don’t be too quick to harvest, as the sweetest melons are those that detach from the vines themselves. Fresh melons are a delightful fruit to add to a summer fruit platter, and the flesh pairs so well…

Euphorbia milii ‘Lipstick’ Crown of thorns is more of a showstopper than other thorny plants you can plant as a security barrier along a boundary or in front of a wall along a pavement. E. milii and the modern hybrids bred from it can form low, floriferous, thorny hedges seldom exceeding a height of 60cm – 1m. These slow-growing succulents also grow well and look good in pots. The potential of this tough euphorbia of Madagascan origin for the indoor plant market was soon realised, and there is now a wonderful selection of varieties, like ‘Lipstick’, available with lush green elliptical leaves and dozens of shocking pink flowers from late winter to spring and summer. Water them regularly in summer and keep them as dry as possible in winter. If…

Still in high summer, but no harm in planning forward. So, let’s green our thumbs.. If you have achieved planting success you now probably have a pretty garden that makes you happy and content without asking too much more of you. If not, take heart as planting success relies on easy words like ‘climate’, ‘planning’, ‘position’, ‘preparation’ and ‘care’. 1 Climate concerns One of the main reasons why some plants sometimes disappoint the gardener (even if pampered endlessly) is that they cannot adjust to difficult climatic conditions. Although you can create artificial microclimates in any garden to please one particular must-have plant, it makes no sense to do it for an entire garden. If you garden in an area that is prone to heavy winter frost and cold winds, think…

The cabbage tree or kiepersol is a medium-sized or large tree in the cabbage tree family (Araliaceae), occurring on mountain slopes, rocky outcrops and along forest margins from the southern parts of the Western Cape to Limpopo, and north to tropical Africa. Growing up to 10m high or rarely to 15m, it has a rounded, densely branched, spreading crown, and a thick trunk covered with a beautiful corky, deeply grooved grey bark. The palm-like leaves develop at the tips of the branches on rigid stalks and vary from intensely grey-green to dark green. The small, greenish-yellow flowers have a pungent scent and are carried in long, finger-like spikes that appear from early summer to late autumn. The round, densely packed fruits are initially greenish-yellow, turning soft and reddish-purple when ripe.…

Dianthuses really are divine: the name is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘flower of the gods’. This is a stalwart of any garden and just keeps on giving with flush after flush of flowers, almost year-round. Dianthuses are therefore excellent value for money. Dianthuses should be planted in full sun and the soil should be well draining and slightly alkaline. It is important that there is enough air circulation around the stems to keep the plants dry, so space well when planting. Due to their hardiness, they can be planted in autumn and spring. These are low-maintenance plants: once flowering is over, cut them back to 7 – 10cm to stimulate another round of flowering. Most importantly, dianthuses attract butterflies and birds to the garden – a sweet reward…

This may be a sneaky way to get the kids to eat their greens, and the very ruffled leaves certainly have a prehistoric look. Despite that, Kale ‘Dinosaur’ from RAW seed is very tasty, with an earthy, nutty flavour that is also sweeter and less bitter than other types of kale. The leaves are rich in vitamin A and K. It is an Italian heirloom vegetable, called Cavolo Nero (black cabbage) in Italy. The plant produces long, narrow blue-green leaves that grow from the base. Space plants 50cm apart as plants grow 90 – 100cm high and wide. Germination takes 10 – 20 days and the leaves can be harvested when they are 30cm long. Being a brassica, it grows best in full autumn and winter sun, in fertile, well-composted…

Ornamental veld grasses are a big part of modern prairie gardens, but sowing them is not something you would normally think of doing. Think again, because from high summer and going well into winter, plants will be bearing lusty seed plumes full of seeds that can be used to make more plants. Ampelodesmos mauritanica (Mauritania vine-reed) growing in Tanya’s garden caught her eye, and when she touched its plumes the seed clung to her hands, so she decided to sow it. You need: Gathered seed heads Moist palm peat A seed-raising tray A watering can with a rose A plant propagator (optional, but handy, and available at www.tanyavisser.com) Do this:…

BEST DAYS FOR FEBRUARY…

February is the hottest month of the year, and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day than a long, icy drink. The trouble is that most soft drinks are full of sugar, while the healthy option (drinking loads of water) isn’t everyone’s ‘cup of tea’. Iced teas, and especially herbal iced teas, tick all the boxes. They are refreshing, healthy, full of flavour and can be sugarless. A teaspoon of honey or sucralose sweeteners can be added (sparingly) if a little sweetness is needed. Adding chopped or sliced fruit is another way of adding some healthy sweetness. Taking in enough liquids (the equivalent of eight glasses of water a day) is necessary to keep hydrated, especially on very hot days. What’s nice about iced tea is that it is…

Fact file: The basionym of Merwilla plumbea is Scilla natalensis. A basionym is an earlier, valid scientific name of a species that has since been renamed. Merwilla plumbea, also known as the wild squill, is a member of the Hyacinthacea family. It is a summer-flowering, winter-dormant indigenous bulb that produces slender, amethyst-blue flower stalks between 75cm and 1.4m in height. They are covered in dense racemes of violet blue, pale blue or blue-and-white star-shaped flowers that are honey scented in the evening and visited by bees during the day. The handsome flowers appear in late spring, even before the broad, tapering leaves emerge in a rosette from the top of the bulb. The light green leaves have a grey undertone and are equally attractive. They can be quite variable, sometimes…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Artichoke (globe), beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, endive, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, radishes, spinach and Swiss chard, turnips Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, radishes, spinach and Swiss chard, turnips Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, radishes, Swiss chard, turnips Western Cape (and Southern Coast) Beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, kohlrabi, lettuce Northern Cape and Great Karoo Beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal Coast Artichokes (globe), beetroot, Brussels sprouts, brinjals, bush and runner beans, cabbage, capsicums…

Rose of the month ‘Sacred Red’ is a new Antico Moderno red rose that has the look and feel of an antique rose with its massive, nostalgia-shaped blooms. Dark red, almost red-black, outer petals frame the bloom’s inner, full-petalled centre. Each bloom is an impressive specimen that is carried on a strong, upright stem, making it a distinctive cut rose for the vase. The shoulder-high bush is an Eco-Chic disease-resistant variety. Rose tasks for February Leaves shade a rose bush in hot weather. To retain as many leaves as possible, keep grooming to a minimum, and spray with Ludwig’s Insect Spray mixed with Chronos to prevent insect damage or fungal disease. Drenching the underside of leaves will prevent red spider mite. During extreme heat, water rose bushes twice a week,…

Sweet peas can be sown at the end of the month. Prepare a trench for them alongside a fence or trellis, and add a lot of well-rotted kraal manure, compost, bonemeal and an organic fertiliser (Atlantic Bio Ocean) to the soil. The reason why a trench is needed is because sweet peas are legumes with a deep and extensive root system. Another reason is that the old-fashioned sweet peas we remember so fondly are climbers that need support – hence the trench next to a wire fence, which will be covered in scented blooms to pick from late winter to spring. Soak the seeds overnight in warm water before sowing directly into the trench. Plant indigenous bulbs like lachenalias, veltheimias and belladonna lilies. Neaten hail-damaged plants lightly and treat pro-actively…

When I first heard about the IV Bar in Cape Town, I thought it was just a normal pub owned by someone with a soft spot for the ivy creeper but who didn’t know how to spell ‘ivy’. Then a youngster told me that an IV bar has nothing to do with social drinking, but with a different kind of socialising where you have a drip in your arm to be intravenously treated for a hangover, amongst many other things! Well, you could have slapped me with a’pap snoek’, as some say around here! Imagine a modern, minimalistic and very clean and serene establishment dolled up in the latest décor style, with comfortable massaging chairs, soft soulful music, the inevitable free Wi-Fi, top-end interior plant scaping in the form of…