Roses and Sneaking A Peak Into A Winning Garden

What’s On The Show Today?

Which scented rose for your garden in Design Elements, a rundown of what produce to plant in summer in Vegetable Heroes, and a walk through a prize winning garden in this feature interview special plus, the king of hiding and sleeping in Talking Flowers?

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Scented Roses That Don't Fail

Have you hankered after roses for your garden but think they’re too much work?
All that spraying, pruning and fertilising.

But gee, whizz, it still would be nice to have one or two?
You may have even discounted have a rose because of the climate you live in.

The modern hyrbid teas are martyrs to high humidity which brings with it all manner of diseases such as the dreaded powdery mildew.

we're moving away from the long stemmed roses that you might see on Valentine's Day.

Instead, we're suggesting some more old fashioned types that have parentage from China and Vietnam.
Here’s a selection to suit different climates.
Let’s find out.
I'm talking with Peter Nixon of Paradisus Design www.peternixon.com.au

Peter mentioned R. (sanguinea) chinensis ‘Miss Lowe’s Variety’ or Bengal Crimson
R. chinensis mutabilis
R. chinensis ‘One Thousand Lights’

Rosa General Schablikine

Lady Hillingdon, Monsieur Tillier, General Schablikine, General Gallieni, Mrs Dudley Cross, Duchesse de Brabant, Mrs. BR Cant, Niphetos, Jean Ducher, Lady Roberts, Papa Gontier, Safrano Alister Clark Rosa ‘Lorraine Lee’, Squatters Dream

If you have any questions about which rose to plant either for me or Peter, why not email us realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

VEGETABLE HEROES

What will you grow in your garden this summer?
Same as last year or do you have no idea?

Well here’s a rundown of what can be planted in the produce garden around Australia.

Just a little note; this is not a definitive guide and if you grow something year after year in summer that I don’t mention, why not write in or email me?

Subtropical districts which includes: South-east Qld & Northern NSW, can plant the following.

HERBS – plant basil, chives, coriander, fennel, gotu kola, heliotrope, lemongrass, mint, parsley, tarragon and winter savoury.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES – plant artichoke, beans, capsicum, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, melons, okra, onion, potato (tubers), rosella, silver beet, spring onion, squash, sweet corn, sweet potato and tomato.

Wet & Dry Tropical districts which includes: North Queensland, NT & WA

HERBS – plant basil, coriander, lemongrass, mint and tarragon.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES – plant artichoke, beetroot, capsicum, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, shallots, spring onion and tomato.

Dry Inland zones which includes: Arid or Outback areas.

Take a load off because technically there’s no sowing or planting throughout summer due to hot and dry conditions.

But hey, maybe your growing something anyway.

Temperate Areas which includes: Sydney, coastal NSW & Victoria.

HERBS – plant basil, chives, coriander, fennel, gotu kola, heliotrope, lovage, mint, parsley and tarragon.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES – plant beans (dwarf and climbing), beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery, chicory, chilli, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, endive, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, okra, parsnip, potato (tubers), radish, rhubarb (crowns), shallots, silver beet, spring onion, sweet corn, sweet potato and zucchini.

Cool & Southern Tablelands which includes: Melbourne, Tasmania & cool highlands.

HERBS – plant basil, chives, coriander, lemongrass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, tarragon and thyme.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES – plant beans, beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, English spinach, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, spring squash, swede, sweet corn, tomato, turnip and zucchini.

Mediterranean zones including: Adelaide & Perth.

HERBS – Keep picking the flowers of parsley and basil to prevent them bolting.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES – Plant tomatoes, zucchini and capsicum by the end of January. Spray apples and pears against codling moth.

THAT WAS YOUR VEGETABLE HERO FOR TODAY

Feature Interview

Prize Winning Garden in the Large Garden category of Ryde Spring Garden Competition.
Have you ever wonder what makes a prize winning garden?

Recently I was master of ceremonies for the gala awards night for a spring garden competition and boy, there were plenty of prize winning gardens.
However, I was invited to one to take a stroll.
Let’s listen in to the conversation.
I'm talking with Anne Johnsons’ garden which won best large garden in the Ryde Spring Garden competition. Anne is of course an avid gardener

As you can see from the photos, the garden is really stuffed with plants that are lovingly tended.

Begonia metallica is a standout feature in Anne's garden.

 Begonias are easy care and Anne religiously gives them a hard prune every Autumn to achieve such a magnificent shape of Begonia metallica.
Anne has added personal touches everywhere with whimsical pot features and ornaments.

If you have any questions about Anne’s garden either for me or Anne why not write in to realworldgardener@gmail.com

TALKING FLOWERS

King Protea  Protea cynaroides

Protea flowers are native to the southern hemisphere, primarily Australia and South Africa, but can also be found in Central Africa, Central and South America, and southeast Asia.

Protea is a genus of flowers from the Proteaceae family. One of the oldest families on earth dating back 300 million years.

Why the cynaroides? Because the centre of the flower looks like an artichoke. Artichokes belong to the genus Cynara.

Protea whas named after Proteus, son of the Greek God Poseidon, was known for his wisdom, but he was not always eager to share his thoughts and knowledge. It seems Proteus preferred to while away the day sleeping in the summer sun. To avoid detection, he changed his appearance and shape frequently. The Protea flower was named after Proteus due its many shapes and colours.

Some Growing Tips

Tip: Prune only the flowered stems of proteas – un-flowered stems are next season’s blooms.

Mulch: Proteas dislike root disturbance, so don’t dig around them. Apply a leaf or bark mulch around the drip line (away from the trunk) and pull out any weeds by hand.

I'm talking with floral therapist Mercedes Sarmini of www.flowersbymercedes.com.au

Recorded on Facebook live during broadcast of Real World Gardener.