Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i The Gardener Magazine

Ay caramba, it’s been a chilly winter! The snow in Bedfordview turned plectranthus black, melted begonias and turned Sunpatiens into green goo! Yip, amongst all the beautiful snowflakes and silhouetted trees, we gardeners knew what lay ahead. In Europe they call it ‘The Melt’, but there it happens every year and they are prepared for it. Here, for some, it is often once in a lifetime. It’s when it melts that we see the damage! We could only look on, helpless, but here is the silver lining: as spring peeps her head around the corner, you are in the starting blocks and ready to go forth and garden more! This is the cycle, the ever-changing climate which we all need to learn from, adapt our gardens and mostly our mindset.…

Echeveria ‘Afterglow’ Large and vibrant rosettes (up to 40cm wide) with slightly curvy, powdery lavender-pinkish leaves adorned with bright pink edges. Enough sun and a bit of winter cold enhances the beautiful hues of this hybrid. Echeveria ‘Imbricata’ Also called the blue rose due to its bluish-grey powdery appearance. This is one of the hardiest and oldest hybrids, but still a favourite. It produces large rosettes and offsets freely. Lots of sun can cause the leaves to flush pink. Echeveria ‘Mauna Loa’ Clumping cabbage-like echeveria with large leaves that crinkle and frill at the edges forming rosettes up to 30cm in diameter. The rosettes are pale green when young and then develop into shades of blue and pink with age. If grown in enough sun the edges can turn red…

Ready, steady, grow… While we did give you a comprehensive feeding programme in the August issue, this is a quick reminder to get feeding now: • Petunias, pansies, violas, primulas and other spring flowering annuals will continue flowering well into October if fed every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser.• Work in compost and bonemeal as well as slow-release fertilisers around summer flowering perennials which are starting to shoot and start watering them more regularly.• Feed leafy shrubs with a general fertiliser and flowering shrubs with 3:1:5 or 5:1:5 fertiliser.• Apply fertiliser around the drip line of trees and water in well.• For healthy foliage and more flowers feed outdoor pot plants with a liquid fertiliser at half strength every two weeks. Tip Water and feed spring flowering bulbs that…

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Associated with lightness and known as ‘pronkridderspoor’ in Afrikaans, these plants are a favourite amongst gardeners who want to add a dash of elegance to their borders. The flowers, which range from electric blues to lavenders, pinks and whites, create an artistic splash of colour against other blooms throughout spring and summer. Plus, these floral beauties are an absolute magnet for pollinators, creating a buzzing biodiversity in your garden. Planting delphiniums requires a delicate balance of the right conditions as they can be quite fussy (as their dramatic look implies). They are, without a doubt, sun-lovers and need at least six hours of sunlight each day to thrive. But they also appreciate a bit of afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates, to protect them from scorching temperatures that can stress…

Sifting through the many attractive trailing plants suitable for South African gardens, it’s impossible not to mention bacopa (Sutera cordata). This South African native is popular for its cascading habit and absolutely adorable blooms. The enchanting tiny five-petal flowers blanket the plant from late spring to autumn, creating an impressive carpet of colour. These blooms are the perfect choice for hanging baskets, window boxes, or patio containers – filling the role of ‘spiller’ wonderfully. The trailing stems filled with delicate flowers can also serve as a beautiful groundcover or lawn replacement as needed. However, it’s not just about looks with this plant. It’s also incredibly reliable, with an impressive tolerance to both heat and drought, making it a low-maintenance choice for busy gardeners. When it comes to planting, it’s important…

✓ watering as the weather gets warmer and water as early in the day as possible. Mulch the beds.✓ Start spring and summer veggies in seed trays for planting out as soon as space becomes available and the danger of frost is over.✓ Stagger sowing, starting with root veggies, followed by leafy greens and fruiting veggies towards the end of September when the soil is warmer. The ideal sowing conditions are when day temperatures are consistently between 18 to 21⁰C.✓ Pull out spent winter or spring veggies and rework the soil, adding compost and carbon soil conditioners.✓ Fix and add a trellis if needed and put in place before sowing runner beans, peas, cucumber and other trailing or vining veggies.✓ Prevent aphids and other sucking insects on brassicas by spraying…

✓ Water roses deeply at least twice a week to support their rapid growth and mulch around the base to keep the soil moist for longer.✓ Towards the middle of the month, fertilise with a rose fertiliser like Vigorosa.✓ If the soil was not improved after pruning, dig in organics (including compost) to a depth of 30cm. This allows water to easily reach the roots. Drench after digging. ✓ Extend the flowering of hybrid tea roses by removing a third of all new shoots, just before the shoots form a flower bud. This extends the flowering flush and this staggered flowering is carried on throughout the season.✓ Protect new growth from aphids, thrips and powdery mildew by drenching the soil around the roses with Koinor or spray with Rose Protector…

For the perfect edge Achieving that perfect garden edge has never been easier. PermaEdge garden edging is a durable, flexible and versatile solution to the edging of garden beds, lawn areas, tree rings, pathways and more! www.permaedge.co.za An emerald tomato for summer The new F1 hybrid Tomato ‘Emerald’ has just been released by MayFord Seeds for sowing this spring for a summer harvest. This tomato has uniform fruit of good quality on an excellent yielding plant that matures early (60 – 65 days after transplanting) and is also perfect for sauces and salsa. ‘Emerald’ has blocky fruit on plants with good leaf cover which protects the fruit exposed to the sun, and they have intermediate resistance to bacterial wilt disease. www.mayford.co.za Basil Blue Spice MayFord has a new aromatic herb…

As the old adage goes ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ and this certainly proves true at Water Oak Farm. Reflecting on their journey, Wendy recalls: “We bought the property in 1986, but it wasn’t until 2001, when my husband’s work commitments allowed, that we were able to move to Cape Town and were able to finish building our house.” The land presented them with an almost blank canvas. “We inherited just a few cypresses and one small oak tree,” comments Wendy. The ground was characterised by hard red clay soil that required years of nurturing with compost and fertilisers to reach its full potential. Wendy and her dedicated staff members have planted every plant in the garden, resulting in a personal touch that radiates throughout the entire garden. Water…

While there are over a thousand varieties of anthurium, the most common is the Anthurium andreanum with its origins in the rainforests of South America and the Caribbean. They are iconic tropical flowers often pictured with a fruity cocktail on an island. The right conditions Anthuriums will thrive if given the right conditions: • Bright, indirect light. No direct sunshine to scorch the leaves.• Warm temperatures and avoiding drafts.• High humidity with the occasional misting in dry climates. Grouping plants together can also raise the humidity levels.• Water when the top 2cm of soil is dry. Water less in autumn and winter.• Repot when the roots are completely pot bound into fresh potting soil with added drainage materials like perlite or vermiculite.• Feed monthly with a liquid plant food.• Gently…

Vygies or mesembryanthemums are our most colourful plant group containing many species with their abundance of bright, iridescent flowers. Few other plants can hold a candle to the glowing vibrancy of a patch of vygies in full flower! In this combination, Drosanthemum speciosum (red ice plant), a vygie which naturally occurs in Worcester, Robertson and the Little Karoo, catches the attention. Drosanthemum means‘dew flower’ in Greek which refers to the glittering water cells on the succulent leaves of this low-growing groundcover or small shrub. Scarlet, yellow or orange flowers will bloom from September to February. The flowers are light-sensitive and will only open after 9am on a sunny day and close up at 5pm. Vygies are fast-growing and very drought tolerant once established in very well-draining soil. They are perfect…

Getting started Peppers need warm soil to germinate when day temperatures are between 20 and 30⁰C. For an early start, sow seed in trays and keep in a warm, sheltered place, but not direct sun. Alternatively, plant out nursery seedlings after the last frost and when the days warm up. To grow Sweet peppers need at least six hours of sun daily, preferably morning sun, and fertile soil that drains well. For long lasting fertility, work in compost and an organic fertiliser or drench that contains boron because peppers are particularly affected by a boron deficiency. Some local sources are EcoBuz StartGro (a micronutrient blend), Nutrifeed, Protek Nitrogreen, Vigorosa, Multifeed Classic and Starke Ayres Plant Food. Space plants 40 – 60cm apart and if grown from seed, thin out weaker…

Commercially, echinacea root, flowers and leaves are used to make herbal supplements and essential oils, but for the home gardener, that kind of processing and extraction is not possible. However, the leaves and flower petals contain vitamin C and can be used fresh or dried to make a herbal tea for soothing a sore throat and easing aches and pains caused by the common cold and flu. It is important to check the medicinal properties before use. As with all edible flowers, use sparingly until you know how they affect you, especially if you have plant allergies. What’s to like Echinacea produces striking flower heads and should not be confined to the herb garden. Plants grow up to 80cm and flower towards the end of summer and into autumn. To…

Dear Tanya… Good day, I would like to plant a leaf I received from a friend. I live in the Northern Cape where it’s cold now. Can I just plant the leaf? If not, please would you advise me how to go about it. Thank you very much, Carlene Fisher Winning letter Hi Carlene, I am going to take a guess here but I think the leaf you have is called Kalanchoe tomentosa. Yes, they can be grown by leaves, in fact very successfully. If the leaf has simply fallen off the mother plant or has been removed carefully from the stem the success rate is normally really good. Place the leaf on a tray filled with fine gravel, lay the leaf on it in a well-lit area – not…

The classic flowers have an impressive ability to instantly make you smile, brightening outdoor spaces with colour from spring to autumn. There are many different types of daisy to choose from. But if you’re looking for something tough and low-maintenance, Argyranthemum (marguerite daisy) should be your first choice. They have the adorable flower shape everyone recognises from their first-ever childhood flower drawing, combined with stunning colours and impressive resilience. As ornamental plants, marguerite daisies are wonderfully cheerful. The blooms work wonders in various settings, including borders, containers, and hanging baskets, infusing each with a vivid pop of colour. Their sturdy stems and vibrant blooms also make them excellent choices for cut flowers. A vase filled with these flowers can bring the outdoor charm right into your home, creating an indoor…

By removing certain parts of a plant – buds, branches or roots – you can promote healthier growth, stimulate new growth, improve the shape and control to some degree the spread of pests and diseases to name just a few. Here are some of the benefits of pruning: Rejuvenate One of the most important reasons to prune, is to stimulate new growth, sometimes bushier growth, which also in turn produces more stems and more leaves and ultimately more flowers. Over time, plants will become leggy and lose their vigour. There are various degrees of pruning from a simple pinching with your fingers to more extreme pruning to rejuvenate and enhance. Finger pruning or pinching The lightest of pruning is to pinch off the new shoots at a node that forces…

Top-performing spring pals to welcome back into our gardens are the swan river daisies, or colourful hybrids bred out of Brachyscome iberidifolia, a tough little annual groundcover hailing from Australia. The ray florets of the bright little daisies vary in colour from magenta, mauve, blue and white, and surround bright yellow, brown or green centres. The foliage is feathery and fine and mostly camouflaged by the mass of flowers. This is a long-flowering annual (from spring to autumn) which can be used as a groundcover, in pots and in hanging baskets. It will grow in any type of soil which is well-draining in full sun. Morning sun will work fine as well. Water it regularly and feed during the flowering months with a water-soluble fertiliser.…

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

Household rules and regulations during a Rugby World Cup are normally laid down by the so-called ‘head of the household’. This goes hand-in-hand with a sort of overnight personality change by the alpha male. He starts off by refusing any social invitations over the seven weekends of matches which might encroach on the date and time any game is played – even if it is only Os Lobos from Portugal against The Oaks from Romania. His voice gets deeper and threatening, and he has an aggressive attitude. If he had some dirty old guns somewhere, I think he would have cleaned them already at the kitchen table in readiness for war! He suddenly rips out all his shirts from the cupboard, looking for his old rugby jersey and green and…