Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i The Gardener Magazine

There are few plants that offer as much as the humble gazania, featured on our cover image for this month. For years I have been intrigued by their complex colours, shades, velvety texture and patterns – the symmetry in these simple flowers is mind boggling! Every winter I take hundreds of photos of the flowers, and what I find so intriguing are the distinct ‘runways’ on each flower that guide the honeybees straight to the pollen. Under ultraviolet light these illuminate and glow much like a strobe light, guiding the bees with the precision of a GPS straight to the prize! They are one of the many ‘perfectly’ designed flowers, and best of all, they are indigenous, tough and always cheerful. It’s no wonder they are often associated with the…

If we could illustrate the beauty of autumn in South Africa’s temperate and subtropical climates with only one word, it would be Plectranthus (spurflower). There are about 44 indigenous species of these herbaceous perennials, which are part of the fragrant mint family, and they range from groundcovers to large shrubs, found in the deep or dappled shade of forest trees in the eastern side of the country. There are other species that come from beyond our borders, as well as fancy hybrids bred in hothouses, and we love them all! Plectranthus plants like warm and moist conditions, and flowering is triggered by short day lengths. This means that these well-known garden plants will produce a glorious display of colour from late summer, through autumn and into winter. General characteristics Odorous…

Winter feels like a Cinderella season in the veggie garden, but it really isn’t. Did you know that there are almost as many winter veggies as there are summer ones? Admittedly, we can’t grow our summer favourites like tomatoes, sweet peppers, and all the different squashes, but on the upside, think of all the different types of lettuce and cabbage, purple broccoli and cauliflower, as well as all those tangy Asian greens and mustards. It may seem that winter is harder on the crops, with icy nights, frost and short days, but there is also an absence of pests, cruel summer heat and the need for constant watering to prevent heat stress. Winter gardening has its own challenges, and by learning how to manage them, the winter veggie garden can…

The delicate appearance of gauras (formerly Gaura lindheimeri, now Oenothera lindheimeri) is misleading, as this native from Texas and Louisiana is a very hardy perennial that tolerates prolonged periods of drought, heat, humidity and neglect. In perfect conditions it is also disease and pest free! The natural growth form is vase-shaped with semi-arching, densely clustered wand-like stems bearing spikes of dainty flowers resembling fluttering butterfly wings. Four-petalled flowers may start off as tight pink buds, opening to white, and then maturing to rosy pink before falling off. The flowering lasts from early spring to late autumn and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. We are lucky to have access to quite a few varieties, varying from tall to compact growth habits and different colours from pure white to deep rosy…

Ag, but then I suppose this feeling of ‘clear and present danger’ is not that unusual. We are, after all, sort of immune to it as we live in a country where darkness can descend on us at any time due to power outages, and where dangerous crooks and murderous criminals are loose on the streets and free to threaten us with no warning… But no, the sudden dread that I feel has more to do with a potentially lethal, prehistoric animal called the Nile crocodile. Years ago we visited a holiday resort in Malelane on the banks of the Crocodile River, and at sunset I found myself sitting all alone on the bank of the river enjoying the beauty of nature in the Lowveld. Without giving wildlife or the…

Pomegranate The scientific name, Punica granatum, is derived from ‘pomum granatum’, which means ‘apple with many seeds’. It is a glorious fruit that has inspired artists and poets alike! Many modern cultivars are commercially grown by farmers, but not readily available to home gardeners. Pomegranate ‘Wonderful’ is though, and is well worth a try. It is a large shrub or small tree that grows to about 5m tall. The interesting trunk and branches covered in narrow, bright green leaves look very impressive, and that is before the orange-red flowers arrive from spring to summer, followed by an autumn harvest of very juicy red to purple skinned fruit. Pomegranates like dry or semi-dry climates with cool winters and warm summers, and can resist quite low temperatures and some frost when in…

In an era where small gardens are the norm and our footprint has an impact on the planet, there is a lot to think about when designing a garden. The topics at the top of the list are water scarcity, food security and destruction of habitats – all big deals if we want to exist in harmony with our world. The landscape design students of the Lifestyle College are taught these important things along with more practical design elements. They are then tasked with showcasing what they have learnt in the Lifestyle Garden Design Show, which runs from March until the end of May at the Lifestyle Home Garden in Randburg. This year, despite all the obstacles we are currently facing with the pandemic, the students have risen to the…

It’s unfortunate that many social media pins and infographics rely on this simplified advice, because indoor plant care is not that difficult to follow. Quite the opposite – it is easier to follow once you understand the basics, and is more likely to keep your plants alive overall. The goal is not to learn detailed, specific requirements for each plant (which becomes almost impossible to follow when you have a house full of plants), but to learn how to ‘read’ any plant’s needs from the clues they provide and use that to replicate the ideal environment in your home. The Home Environment Although we have dubbed them ‘indoor plants’, it is pretty clear that your living room is not a natural environment for a plant. Houseplants can grow indoors because…

The use of herbs as medicinal plants goes back centuries, and that includes our own indigenous medicinal herbs. Starting with the Khoisan, herbs like wormwood (Artemisia afra), the cancer bush (Sutherlandia frutescens or Lessertia frutescens), wild rosemary (Eriocephalus africanus) and bulbinella (Bulbine frutescens) have a long history within all indigenous societies, used for treating winter-related ailments, healing wounds and building immunity. Herb gardeners may be more familiar with herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley and garlic as winter healing herbs, but there is a fascinating world of medicinal plants on our doorstep waiting to be discovered. According to Medicinal Plants of South Africa by Ben-Erik van Wyk, Bosch van Oudtshoorn and Nigel Gericke (Briza), there are some 3 000 species of plants that are used medicinally in South Africa, and…

Seeing a patch of torch lilies or red-hot pokers in full flower leaves an indelible impression on the mind – you will never forget them! South Africa has about 47 species, including both winter- and summer-flowering species as well as both evergreen and deciduous ones. Only a few of the species and some hybrids are cultivated commercially, like Kniphofia praecox, which bears fiery orange-red flowers. The tubular buds at the top of the large flower spikes are dark red, brightening to deep orange as they begin to open. The older flowers at the base of the tall and sturdy flower stem, which reaches about 1m high, are the colour of old gold. The many blooms produced by well-established clumps remain for weeks on end, their dripping nectar attracting pollinating insects,…

Imagine a little balcony or patio decorated with pots filled with flowering daffodils and tulips in spring, and imagine windowsills indoors framed with highly aromatic and romantic hyacinths, and you are halfway to heaven on earth! All three of these bulbs can be grown in soil in containers or hydroponically (above water on pebbles), which gives the flat dweller no excuse not to enjoy a little ‘potting’ in autumn that will result in the magnificence of jewel-like blooms in late winter and spring. Growing daffodils and tulips in pots Pick pots with drainage holes and place a layer of gravel chips at the bottom. Partially fill the pots with potting soil, to about 10cm from the top. Arrange the bulbs about 2cm apart and add some potting soil around them,…

“Life doesn’t come with a manual. It comes with a mother.” Make Mum happy this Mother’s Day with the gift of happy and safe gardening. The EcoBuz Hamper contains a range of environmentally and child-friendly gardening products. Our Nurture products build healthy soils and plants, supporting strong plants that are pest and disease resistant. If and when uninvited guests do arrive, our biological Protect range offers control without harming beneficial insects and with no chemical residues: treat today, eat today. Give your mother the gift of stress-free gardening, with no harmful effects on herself, her children or her grandchildren. www.ecobuz.co.za Setting out in style Real gardeners are not put off by the rain: they simply put on a waterproof poncho and keep gardening. Rosehip Waterproof Ponchos are proudly made in…

In Japan, kokedama is a popular garden art form that sprung from the art of bonsai. This art form is not as complicated as bonsai and literally means ‘moss balls’, yet it is very effective, especially when many are grouped together. You only need a few things to get started on your own kokedama collection: What you will need: Shade-loving or indoor plant (we used Asparagus setaceus or asparagus fern) Sphagnum moss Twine Scissors 1. Remove the plant from the pot and take off a bit of the excess soil. Use this soil to reform the soil around the roots into a ball. 2. Wet the sphagnum moss and start placing it onto the soil ball, while securing it with twine. Keep adding sphagnum moss and tying it down until…

KZN’s premier gardening show has come of age in its 21st edition, making it a special occasion for all gardeners and nature lovers. To celebrate this auspicious anniversary there will be four stunning gardens on show, each highlighting the beauty and importance of indigenous species. Garden 1 By popular demand, the garden of Izolda van der Merwe and Tanya Visser, which received rave reviews when on show previously, will be back on for those disappointed to miss it last time. And, of course, there are always plenty of new developments at The Potting Shed! Garden 2 Visitors will also be able to enjoy Shambala, the exquisite, award-winning garden developed over many years by owner Danna Flack. She is also the proud owner of neighbouring Makaranga Gardens. Garden 3 The new…

If you want to see those fat pom-pom dahlia blooms the size of a soup plate in your garden again next year, you have to care for the dormancy period of dahlia tubers during winter in two ways: Leave them in the ground Just leaving them to go to sleep where they grew is fine in temperate climates with no or light frost, as long as the soil is not constantly wet or cold, or of heavy clay. Do this: Cut the stems back to ground level. Mark the spots where the tubers are with bamboo sticks and labels to remind you of their whereabouts. Mulch the soil’s surface thickly with leaf mould, bark or compost. Lift and store Lifting the bulbs and storing them is recommended for very cold…

✔ Iceland poppies (Papaver nudicaule) are wonderful companions for pansies, violas, and calendulas and are colourful fillers in between pruned roses in winter. Buy seedlings that are ‘green’ (not in flower) to get the most out of them. Plant poppies in full sun, in well-composted soil. For great flowers, fertilise once a month and water regularly – they shouldn’t dry out or be overwatered. ✔ Team up flowering kale and lobularia (alyssum) as a lovely border for a shrub bed. The lobularias, just like the kale, are very cold resistant and at their best behaviour in winter. ✔ In temperate climes, calendulas, nemesias (wild snapdragons), gazanias, Namaqualand daisies, bokbaaivygies and Virginian stocks can still be sown directly into prepared soil and will germinate in no time. ✔ Snails will be…