Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i The Gardener Magazine

Quick fact file Business name: Aqua Flora SA – Water Garden Nursery Specialising in: Surf & Turf: Aquatic plants, Echeveria and anything else with chlorophyll Contact details: Pieter 083 441 0848 Adriaan 083 451 9975 Email: info@aquaflora.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/aquaflorasa “Let no one think that real gardening is a bucolic and meditative occupation. It is an insatiable passion, like everything else to which a man gives his heart.”– Karel Čapek Passion for plants runs deep at Aqua Flora. Co-owners Pieter van der Walt and Adriaan van Niekerk quite literally grew up surrounded by them. Pieter grew up in a nursery. “I could speak ‘plant’ before I had acquired English as a second language,” Pieter quips. This early exposure to the wonders of the botanical word led to a lifelong passion for…

Festuca glauca (blue fescue) resembles a little hairy porcupine with fine blades of an icy-blue to silvery grey colour that intensifies in the cold winter months. It is evergreen and produces buffy seed heads on thin stems in summer, which should best be removed in order to direct the plant’s energy into keeping its foliage in good shape. This is a clumper but not a vigorously spreading ornamental grass, so if you want to use it as an eye-catching groundcover, plant it rather densely spaced to prevent weeds from germinating between plants. Mature size about 20 x 20cm. Uses: • Festucas work especially well when planted as a soft groundcover around robust and dramatic accent plants such as cordylines, palms, phormiums and cycads. • Small aloes and rosette-forming succulents like…

Chillies have a reputation of being difficult to grow from seed. They need heat to germinate, and the hotter the chilli, the longer they take. Pre-germinating the seeds is a simple method that improves the germination rate. • First, check that you have fresh seed. Chilli seeds don’t have a long shelf life. • Dampen two paper towels and scatter the seeds on the one towel and place the second one on top, pressing it lightly down. Place the towels in a large zip-lock plastic bag or container, and seal. • Store the seed in its plastic container in a warm place for 2 - 5 days. The seeds need consistent warmth (35 - 30°C), which could be on a heating pad, or a hot tray turned very low so…

The trick to creating a tropical jungle in a pot is to combine plants that have the same basic requirements: bright indirect light, a warm protected spot away from drafts, moist soil with regular watering in summer and less in winter, a foliar feed every two weeks in the warm months, and high humidity in the atmosphere through regular misting. Other things to think about are height and interesting leaves, which you can get from plants like a multi-stemmed palm, and a colour shock like a variegated dracaena, with bulk and drama lower down from something like a philodendron with bold leaves. Some understory plants will come in handy to create the jungle’s ‘floor’, and therefore something ferny like the silver ribbon fern might be just perfect. A spreading peperomia…

Pandorea jasminoides ‘Rosea’ (bower plant) This willing bloomer is an evergreen climber that is dressed from bottom to top with lush dark green leaves on slender stems. The foliage provides a neat background to the panicles of tubular light pink flowers with striking dark pink throats which appear from late winter to midsummer. It needs a little help to grow upwards and for the stems to wrap themselves around a support at first. It flourishes in subtropical regions and will not tolerate wind or heavy frost. Pruning can be in the form of a light trim after flowering to neaten the plant and to prevent wayward stems. Feed during the summer months to ensure an abundance of flowers. Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria) Wisterias are vigorous, far-reaching climbers, but growth can…

The existence of potted plants as contained gardens must surely stretch deep back into time immemorial. Imagine, if you will, the magnificence of ancient Egypt, Babylon and Persia, the dignity of early classical Grecian civilizations, the grandeur of the once mighty Roman Empire, the spirituality of the East, the splendour of Renaissance Europe and the unreserved ostentation of Victorian England, and you will surely find evidence of early container gardening in all of its many guises. Multiple similar containers can be regimented boldly to define space. We can only conjecture what inkling guided the hand that planted the first potted plant and sparked a narrative that stretches from the early beginnings of the humble pot, urn, box and basket to the inestimable forms of creative container gardening and landscaping of…

The start of a new season is always full of possibilities, and here is a project that may just capture your imagination. How about working with nature to create a natural balance in the garden between pests and their natural predators? It is all about planting a variety of herbs and flowers that act as host plants for the pests, or the beneficial insects that prey on them, as well as using plants that repel pests. The long-term aim is to have a naturally healthy garden that requires little intervention from the gardener in terms of pest control. Common pests and their predators Among the many pests that gardeners have to contend with, the two most common seem to be aphids, which infest both vegetables and flowers, and whitefly, which…

Iris is the Greek word for ‘rainbow’, and amongst the different types of irises, the Louisiana iris, native to the marshes and bayous of Southern Louisiana and growing along the banks of the Mississippi River across the southern United States, must be one of the most spectacular wild flowers! Louisiana irises are actually cultivars of five species that readily interbreed, and are classified into the taxonomic group as Iris ser. Hexagona. As with many other perennials, like daylilies, irises in all their forms (there are 260 – 300 known species alone!) fascinate plant collectors and plant lovers so much that nature is assisted by human hands, and more hybrids are released every year by specialist growers. The swamp or water iris is a clump-forming evergreen perennial with fans of slender…

Kalanchoe thyrsiflora Huge, fleshy rosettes of luminous turquoise-green leaves with bright red to maroon edges make this plant glow on a sunny day. Spectacular creamy-grey stems (up to 1.3m tall) carrying light yellow, tubular flowers appear in winter. Phormium ‘Rubrum’ A dainty little flax up to 40cm high with long narrow upright leaves in a dark purplish red to burgundy colour. Cold and frost hardy. Armeria maritima ‘Dusseldorf Pride’ Also called sea thrift, this hardy perennial has the same porcupine look and clumping habit as the festuca, but with dull green foliage and dark pink lollipop flowers on long stems in spring and summer. Imagine a sea of steely blue or greyish green with pink blooms atop!…

Garden-Joy vertical planters are ideally suited for outdoor use, for planting succulents, providing a variety of herbs for the kitchen, covering an ugly wall with a colour kaleidoscope of flowering seedlings, or planting with a variety of greenery to provide a lush effect. They come in kit form and are available in single units to suit all budgets. They can also be connected as an interlocking system that will cover an entire wall. The unique design features reservoirs in each holder that negate the need for daily watering, and if the planters are used in the interlocking configuration, only the top row needs to be watered - gravity will convey water to the other planters. https://garden-joy.co.za…

✓ October’s best jasmine is star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). This versatile creeper, with its glossy, dark green foliage and aromatic pure-white flowers, can be used to train up pillars and posts, to cover pergolas, as a groundcover under trees, and is perfect for pots. ✓ Add colour to balconies and patios with potted amaryllis bulbs. Use good-quality potting soil that drains well and pots that are just a little bigger than the bulb’s girth. The bulb’s ‘shoulder’ must protrude above surface of the soil and the ‘nose’ should reach just above the pot’s rim. Keep the pots in a warm, well-lit position and the soil moist. ✓ Although roses dislike disturbance around their roots, they don’t mind the presence of a living mulch like Brachyscome (Swan River daisy) – perfect…

You will need Reclaimed pine cut to: 7 x 1000mm x 90mm x 20mm (wall pieces) 2 x 630mm x 90mm x 20mm (crosspieces) 2 x 1000mm x 30mm x 20mm, with 45° angles at both ends (frame uprights) 2 x 630mm x 30mm x 20mm, with 45° angles at both ends (frame cross pieces) Woodoc 50 Marine – Clear, Matt Mineral turpentine 9 metal pot holders (available from leading garden centres) 9 pots (to fit the pot holders – ours are 10cm) 4mm x 35mm wood screws 4mm x 25mm wood screws Wall anchors To do 1. First up, cut one of the crosspieces lengthways at a 45° angle. (This is to make a French cleat* to hang the wall hanging up, and is optional.) 2. Screw the 7…

New mega pack flower range launch MayFord has just launched a new Mega Pack range of Spring Flowers. The Mega Packs make it easy to see just what the seeds can do in your garden thanks to icons such as ‘Throw & Sow’ (easy sowing), ‘Waterwise’ and ‘Indigenous’ (low water user), ‘Bee Friendly’ (good for pollinators), ‘Cut Flower’ (good for the vase), and an icon to show expected coverage. The sowing instructions on the back of the packet have been revamped to make it even easier to follow. Look out for the new packaging at your local garden store. www.mayford.co.za Maple Grow House If you are into design and aesthetics as well as gardening, look no further than the Maple Grow House from Keter. It is handsome enough to complement…

Sustainability is a buzzword that is all over social media. Companies use the term in their marketing, and whole industries have been created around it. Unfortunately, the repeated use of it has an adverse effect – it begins to lose meaning and significance. But, in the environmental crisis we now find ourselves in, commitment to true sustainable practices is more important than ever. It’s not all doom and gloom though. If every next-generation gardener across the world were to do their part to help the environment, it could have an incredible impact. And one of the best ways to help is to invite wildlife into your garden and do what you can to protect it. Biodiversity in the garden Every sustainable gardener should have biodiversity top of mind. An abundance…

✓ …butterflies ✓ …flowers in the sky ✓…a warm glow ✓ …a gentle flutter The GARDENA ClickUp! system works on the principle that the ClickUp! handle is the basic element for various ClickUp! decoration elements. The range includes elements for every season: from a stylish flower bowl for spring to an elegant torch for cool autumn evenings. The practical thing about it: with the innovative GARDENA ClickUp! System, the elements can be exchanged very easily. One handle-many possibilities! The insect hotel, flower bowl, rain gauge, torch fireplace and bird feeder can be mounted on the handle with a single click and blends in beautifully with their green surroundings. The geometric design of the attachments is simple yet sophisticated, combining a lifestyle product with clever functionality. The ClickUp! range has been…

If bold, bright and beautiful is what you are after, then October’s bedding plant of the month is right up your alley. Companies the world over can only dream of having staff arrive at work as punctually as a portulaca blooms in the morning. It is colourful, water-wise, easy going and will fill a patch in your garden where not much else will thrive. What more could a gardener want? What these gorgeous treasures need is sun – lots of it! In fact, they’ll take sun the whole day long if possible. Plant up your portulacas in rockeries, hanging baskets, pots, between stepping stones, and even as a groundcover if that is what you need. Their eye-catching colours will make any of these areas impossible to miss. There is no…

What you need: Large pot Premium mix potting soil Stones or bits of terracotta pots to cover drainage hole in pot Plants – we used: Pelargonium x fragrans ‘Nutmeg’ (nutmeg-scented geranium) – a relaxant, and reduces fever. Mentha suaveolens (variegated apple mint) – aids with digestive disorders, acne, colic and cramp. Moss-curled parsley – helps to reduce bloating and lower blood pressure, plus it is loaded with vitamin K, which has been linked to bone health, supporting bone growth and bone mineral density. Plant the three plants in a terracotta pot and place in a sunny position that receives at least 6 hours of sun a day. Water every 4 - 5 days and harvest regularly for making tea. Making tea Bring water to the boil. Add 1 tablespoon of…

• Water more frequently as it warms up, and mulch. • Remove weeds by hand, pulling them out by the roots. • Till compost into the soil before planting. • Watch out for aphids, and whitefly, and spray with an organic pesticide every five days until an infestation is under control. • Thin out veggies sown from seed, especially beetroot and carrots. • Water squashes around the base of the plant to prevent powdery mildew on the leaves. • Keep removing the side shoots on vine tomatoes and train the main stem along a trellis • Earth up potatoes and mound soil around other veggies that need support, like green beans and sweetcorn. • Plant sweet potato slips • Pinch out the growing tips of brinjals once five or six…

Lagerstroemia indica (crêpe myrtle or pride of India) has always been an old favourite lining the streets of country towns or gracing old farm gardens, where they withstood hot sun and drought but flowered unfailingly every midsummer despite neglect. Unfortunately, their dull green leaves would become infected with mildew, which gave them a bad reputation and they disappeared from the scene. A new range of revolutionary lagerstroemias called ‘Black Diamond’ have come to our shores and have a resistance against mildew. But their loveliest attribute is the dark purple to nearly black glossy foliage, which highlights the bright crinkly flowers in shades of red, white, purple, lavender and magenta. These plants are deciduous, which makes them cold and frost hardy, and they are also quite drought hardy once well established.…

Koi keeping is an exciting hobby that adds excitement to your life and brightens up your garden. The sound of running water and the sight of colourful koi creates peace and tranquillity in just about any space. With Covid-19, we are all spending more time at home in a safer environment, so now is the best time to build a pond at home and do some gardening. Koi make wonderful pets, and until you have experienced keeping them it is hard to explain the pleasure that they will bring you. Koi are far more intelligent than you may think, and before you know it you will be handfeeding them and giving them all nicknames. They can see and smell and will learn your body shape, and whoever feeds them the…

BEST DAYS FOR OCTOBER…

When I complained to a friend about all the unnecessary stuff hanging around, she told me that she once attended a ‘white elephant party’ where all the guests brought stuff they no longer wanted. It was at such an occasion that she found somebody else’s unwanted teapot, which became her kitchen favourite! So maybe there is wisdom in the saying that ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’… I have long been pondering things that are of no use to us anymore, but I don’t know how to get rid of them – you can’t simply place unwanted stuff on the pavement like they do in The Netherlands, or throw it on the dump - not with the state planet Earth is in! I know that there is a place…