Wildlife in Focus: Listen here to Kurtis Lindsay's exploits with the native Bandicoot.
Available to 31st April 2011
Vegetable Hero: Kohlrabi or Call robbie? Brassica olerace gongylodes, botanically speaking. The seeds are availble at these sites www.edenseeds.com.au would suit community gardens because they’re offering specials on bulk purchases. Two varieties, Early Vienna White and Purple Globe from www.newgipps.com.au, and www.greenpatchseeds.com.au
Kohlrabi is a good choice for beginner gardeners because it’s fast and easy to grow of all the Brassicaceae family.Your kids will love kohlrabi because of it’s funny appearance. Sort of like little aliens from other space. The little round body with little "legs" coming out of the ground. Kohlrabi grows well with Beetroot because they have the same water requirements. You can also fit Kohlrabi in between lettuce, onion and radicchio, because it sits above the ground and doesn’t take up as much room as cabbages and the like. You can direct seed Kohlrabi or start them in punnets or seed trays because they don’t mind being transplanted. Sow the seeds about 1 cm deep January to March (temperate climates): Kohlrabi can be rather closely spaced (or interplanted) and is out of the garden in 60 days (2 ½ months)or so, leaving time to plant something else. Select small kohlrabi no larger than 2 1/2"or 6cm in diameter, with the greens still attached. The greens should be deep green all over with no yellowing.
Kohlrabi keeps up to 1 month in the fridge.
Design Elements: Creating a vegetable border. Lesley and Marianne (me) talk about what veggies suit a garden border. Listen here until April 31st.
Plant of the Week: Quisqualis indica or Rangoon Creeper.
From southern Asia the Rangoon creeper is a tender fast growing tvining plant. The leaves are simple. Leaves are opposite, elliptical with a pointed tip and a rounded base from 7 to 15 centimeters. It looks fantastic paired with another subtropical/tropical climber called Herald’s Trumpet or Beaumontia grandiflora. The very large white trumpet flowers contrast so well with the smaller but bigger bunches or clusters of white to dark red flowers. On seeing the combination you’re immediately inspired to want them for yourself. The pair which are located in the Sydney Botanic gardens near the Music Conservatorium.
The flower's fragrance is sometimes called fruity, or even like toasted coconut.
The growth rate is generally fast, and the plant does not need lots of fertilizer. Quisqualis does like medium to bright light. Under good conditions it will be necessary to prune the plant to keep it in under control. When a leaf drops but the petiole remains this petiole stiffens, grows stronger, and becomes a very effective climbing hook. While not sharp, like a cactus thorn, these can make pruning a bit tedious, and can draw blood.
What's On: Earth Hour.
