Coming up

Focussing on practical tips and lots of DIY suggestions, this weeks’ Gardening Australia is full of gardens, ideas and projects that have become favourites. 

Gardening Australia Weekly Quiz

A) Scion     
B) Leafstock     
C) Woodstock

Answer to last week's question:
Q. When long-stem planting, gardeners are:
A. C - Planting deeper, with more of the stem underground

What to plant this weekend

Tropical Climate Zone

• Eggplant
• Lettuce
• Radish
• Watermelon

• Capsicum
• Chicory
• Potatoes
• Shallots

• Asparagus
• Chives
• Mustard Greens
• Rocket

• Beans (climbing and bush)
• Basil
• Carrots
• Pumpkin

Jobs for the weekend

COOL

• Early flowering fruit trees such as apricots and almonds are blooming, so bung a blanket over them on those chilly nights to keep the frost off the flowers.
• Got a tricky spot and want to try some turf, why not go native? Weeping Grass (Ehrharta stipoides) is frost and shade tolerant, loves a cool, damp climate and is marvellous when mowed.
• For a delicious edible that is quick and easy to grow, you can’t go past a zucchini. Sow seeds directly in rich soil and give them room to spread – you’ll be harvesting in couple of months!

• It’s time to feel the heat and plant some chillies. Start some seeds in a warm spot like a windowsill and plant into the patch or pots in four to six weeks. Hot stuff!
• Orchids are entering an intense phase of foliage growth now, so give them a helping hand by fertilising every two weeks. A specialised organic liquid product is generally best.
• The people of the Kulin nation call this time Poorneet (Pronounced  ‘Pour Neat’) - tadpole season. Currawongs call often, the tubers of the Murnong (Microseris lanceolata) are harvested and Dianella are in flower.

• It’s time to get cooking! Solarise large areas of unwanted turf or trouble spots by laying black plastic over the soil for a couple of months, and cooking weeds and their seeds.
• Got a bare fence or naked trellis? - put them to use and plant some climbing beans! From French beans to borlottis and the Aussie butter bean, these classic climbers are dead-set simple to grow!
• Popping up their pointy heads are nut grass, a problematic and persistent weed. A sign of a site lacking calcium, adding lime to the soil and improving drainage can see these devils disappear.

• If your bumper tomato season is coming to an end, save some seeds from your faves. Squeeze seeds onto paper towel, dry them, store them and sow them next season!
• A tough tropical plant, the Aibika is an excellent edible. Highly nutritious and growing in nearly any soil, the leaves are delicious, and the stems are a great bean substitute.
• Keep your compost heap hot and happening, by ensuring it is kept moist, turned often and has a balanced blend of browns and greens.

• If you’ve got grapes, they are likely thinking about producing fruit. Give them a helping hand with regular feeds of compost, manures and a slow-release organic fertiliser.
• Connect with other passionate gardeners in your area and join a local seed-savers group. Share successes, stories and seeds, grow local and grow your community.
• Paw paws are beginning to ripen, so protect them from possums, bats and birds by bagging them up. Don’t forget, the fruits are great to eat both green or fully ripe – almost paw-fect.