Coming up

Costa discovers new life in a fire affected landscape; Tino explores a saffron farm; Jerry shares some garden hygiene tips and Millie plants flavour-packed produce

This week, Costa writes about his heart moving experience from behind the scenes of tonight's Gardening Australia episode, where he visits a bushfire affected community in the Blue Mountains.

"I knew that there would be a point where the impact of the fires would strike and sure enough, it was heart wrenching to see familiar businesses and homes that have been roadside markers for years, burnt to the ground along with bushland as far as the eye could see in places.

At first glance, it’s hard not be overwhelmed by the obvious damage caused by the fires. Coming out to film was in a sense a bit of a double-edged sword. While we didn’t want to intrude on what is a very difficult time for these communities, it was also important to be able to visit the gardens and the 140 hectare conservation area (that was totally burnt out) so we could illustrate just what the fire did and how we can interpret and learn from these different impacts and the process of recovery".
 

Gardening Australia Weekly Quiz

A) Around 50     
B) Around 2000     
C) Around 220,000

Watch tonight's show and see next week's newsletter for the answer!

Last week's answer:
Q. How many species of the Phalaenopsis orchid are found in the wild?
A. - b) Around 70

What to plant this weekend

Tropical Climate Zone

• Broad Beans
• Capsicum
• Eggplant
• Lettuce

• Beans
• Broccoli
• Parsley
• Tomatoes

• Cauliflower
• Garlic
• Leeks
• Sweet Potato

• Lettuce
• Onion
• Peas/Snow Peas
• Spinach

• Asparagus
• Brussel Sprouts
• Endive
• Radish

Jobs for the weekend

COOL

• It’s time to clear out spent summer crops this weekend and compost any final fruits or foliage, clearing the decks for soil preparation and sowing of wonderful winter crops.
• If you have pumpkins to be picked, get onto it before the first frosts hit. Sit them somewhere sunny and protected for a few days to help the skin cure and then store in a cool, dry spot.
• Australia’s native cobra, the Cobra Greenhood Orchid, is coming into flower now. This rare ground-orchid has striking white flower heads with green stripes, said to look like the head of a snake.

• It’s bulb planting time! In well prepared soil or pots, plant your stunning spring flowering faves, including jonquils, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.
• Give empty vegie beds some love this weekend. Top up levels with aged composts and manures, mulch with straw, and sow quick-growing green manure seeds to improve tired summer soils.
• Spend time in your garden as the seasons change and notice where the sun sits as it shifts towards its winter position. This will help you plan your winter patch and make the most of the toasty sun traps that remain.

• Plant the perfect perennial – the winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus). These fast-growing climbers love the subtropics and all parts of the plant can be eaten. They’re totally nutritious and delicious!
• As citrus trees start to slow down going into winter, now is the time to give them their last supper – a good feed of aged chook manure or blood and bone to see them through till spring.
• As the weather cools down so does your compost, so give it a good turn, a little water and whack in some comfrey, borage or chook poop to keep your heaps hot and happening.

• As the season changes from wet to dry, the weather can catch us by surprise. Sow seeds and young plants under cover to avoid them being drowned or destroyed by the weather.
• Flowering now is the lovely lemon myrtle, Backhousia citriodora, it’s fragrant, creamy white flowers is a beacon for butterflies and bees. Tip prune after flowering to prevent seed set.
• Get down, get dirty, and show your soil some love. Feed well with trace elements, treat to some aged compost, lavish with a liquid seaweed and replace those nutrients lost over the wet season.

ARID

• April is a cracking month in the garden. Get rolling this weekend with a round of winter veg – both broccoli and cauliflower can be sown now, and will rocket away in the mid-autumn weather
• Plant everlasting daisies now for a stunning spring display. Scattering seeds over cultivated garden beds will create swathes of colour and a wonderful wild meadow in a few months.
• Herbalicious perennial favourites, marjoram and oregano, are perfect to plant now. Both thrive in full sun, are great between pavers or in pots, planters, hanging baskets….and pasta!