Coming up

Sophie visits a eucalyptus oil farm; Jane multiplies one plant to many with simple division; Josh makes a compost sink; we visit the home of an interior stylist whose indoor plant collection will amaze you and guest presenter Emmaline Bowman shows us how to make homes in the garden for skinks

Gardening Australia Weekly Quiz

What is the botanical name for the Silky Oak?
A) Grevillea robusta    
B) Quercus robur
C) Cardwellia sublimis
Watch tonight's show and see next week's newsletter for the answer!

Answer to last week's quiz:
Q) How many species of ladybeetles are there in Australia?
A) C - Over 100
 

What to plant this weekend

Tropical Climate Zone

• Asparagus
• Broad beans
• Carrots
• Potatoes

• Beans (Climbing and bush)
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Parsnip

• Broccoli
• Capsicum
• Leeks
• Parsley

• Cabbage
• Chives
• Leeks
• Shallots

Jobs for the weekend

COOL

• National Eucalypt Day is this Monday, so spend some time in the company of these iconic Australians and celebrate the place they hold in our hearts and lives.
• For soups, salads and sangas, it’s time to sow scallions! Also known as spring or salad onions, sow seeds direct into fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny spot. Perfect in between other crops.
• Hedges don’t have to be boring! There are heaps of herbs that are hedgeable, with the bonus of being edible! Think Rosemary, Sage, Bay Trees, Thyme, Curry Bush, Catmint and lovely Lavenders.

• It’s garlic planting time! Source varieties from certified growers, soak firm, separated cloves in dilute seaweed overnight and plant point up into rich, fluffy soil.
• Autumn may have just begun, but it’s time to plan your spectacular show of spring flowering bulbs. Make a cuppa, crack open some catalogues and order your bulbs for planting in late April/May.
• Eucalypts aren’t just huge trees, there are some great varieties for home gardens too, like the silver-foliaged Argyle Apple (Eucalyptus cinerea) that can be clipped regularly to form a hedge.

• Grow a tomato that’s tasty, tiny and cute as a button! The Thai Pink Egg tomato is productive and perfect for the tropics, and the pale pink fruit are super sweet
• In bloom now is the bold Tibouchina with their riot of showy purple flowers. These evergreen Brazilian natives love a hard prune once flowering is finished, and a sunny spot out of the wind.
• Get involved in Citizen Science and become a Dead Tree Detective. Submit photos and info about dead and dying trees in your area to assist Universities monitoring of tree and ecosystem health. Find out more about the Dead Tree Detective Project here.

• The perfect specimen tree for arid gardens is the Coral Gum, Eucalyptus torquata. Textured gumnuts, brilliantly coloured flowers and buds and dark bark make this a sun-loving stunner.
• It’s snow-pea time! Knock up a simple climbing frame or a timber trellis, and, after soaking seeds overnight, sow them direct into well-prepared soil at the base of the frame. Mulch well
• Hardy and handy, Artemisia x ‘Powis Castle’ is a tough cookie in arid climates. A small, mounded shrub, its aromatic, grey leaves are great for repelling mites, fleas…and possibly even rabbits!