Real World Gardener on 2rrr 88.5 fm Wed. 5pm, Sat 12 noon
for 13th April 2011
Feature interview: RWG talks to Tim Pearson, Honours Biology student in Animal Behavioural Science. Tim has been studying the Grey Headed Flying Fox for 6 years. Find out why there might be a problem with removing the the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Hear a condensed version of the interview here.
Vegetable Heroes: Nasturtiums, Tropaeolum majus.Nasturtiums are easy to grow, the whole plant is edible, and they are great companion plants as well! Nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests. Nasturtiums are annual plants with rounded leaves like a water lily. The flowers are an open funnel shape with a little claw or spur on the underside. Save the seeds for ‘ron.Autumn is still the time to plant Nasturtiums and to get a faster sprout soak your seeds (they are large and pretty hard) in some warm water overnight and then place directly in the garden or pots where you want to grow them. Nasturtiums resent being transplanted so don’t buy the seedlings. If you want to sow them in coco peat pots you can then plant the seedling, pot and all into the garden. They love part sun or semi-shade, but they don't do well in drought-like conditions. As long as you keep them watered and give them room for the air to circulate they will flower for a long time. The soil shouldn't be too rich because you will get more leaves than flowers. Decorate cupcakes with Nasturtium flowers on top of the frosting for something really different!
Nasturtium vinegar -add several flowers and some leaves to a jar with a clove of garlic. Fill with vinegar and allow to sit for 4-5 weeks. The leaves and flowers can be added to any salad, used as garnish, or chopped into pasta salads. You can find more recipes and uses for Nasturtiums at http://oldfashionedliving.com/nasturtiums.html
Design Elements: Today the problems are How do I make my small garden seem bigger, and my garden is a very long and thin rectangle, what should I do?.. So pencils on the ready....! Listen here.
Plant of the Week: Sabina and Mariane talk about uses of grass type plants. There are a couple of varieties that do as lawn substitutes and only need mowing 1x or 2x a year. Not for heavy traffic areas of course. Varieties are Amethyst, Isabella, Just Right and Pure Blonde!
a) I suggest planting liriope 40cm (16") apart if you want to try growing it as a lawn substitute.
b) Most gardeners wouldn’t buy liriopes for their flowers. Dainty and delightfully pasted to a totem like spike, they are fairly insignificant to some.
c) Liriopes are foliage plants first. You can get quite a lot of variation and variegation.
d) If you’re looking for a border plant that won’t be exposed to full-sun all day then liriopes should be considered. They actually prefer part-shade and can even tolerate full-shade locations provided they’re situated in well-draining soil.
g) Liriopes aren’t even fussy about fertilisers and can often reside in soil that is far from rich in nutrient base. But, if you want to get the most from these plants then apply twice per year foliar spray. Their watering needs are fairly minimal and they have few disease and pest problems.
For more info go to http://www.bestplants.com.au/
What's On. http://www.habitatnetwork.org/
Real World Gardener is produced in the studios of 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney, N.S.W. and heard across Australia on the Community Radio Network. A gardening show with up to date, informative topics about sustainable gardening, plants, wildlife and the environment. RWG's team of experts with Marianne Cannon, host, and educator JOIN US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/RealWorldGardener
Monday, 18 April 2011
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Fly Like An Eastern Yellow Robin
Real World Gardener for 6th April 2011, Wednesdays 5pm on 2RRR 88.5fm
Wildlife in Focus: Kurtis talks about the Eastern Yellow Robin, it's habitat, call and much more. Hear it .....
Podcast Powered By Podbean
Bill Rankin and Tony Bayliss of the Wildlife Sound Recording Group www.awsrg.org.au have kindly provided RWG with wildlife sound recordings for our 'Wildlife in Focus" episodes.
For more info on the Eastern Yellow Robin see http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/
Vegetable Heroes: Broccoli, Brassica oleracea var italica. Broccoli is not too choosy about the site it grows in but prefers to be in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade with no problems. Although, growing in too much shade will reduce the size of the Broccoli head. The ideal soil is a reasonably heavy (not pure clay) A light soil can be improved by the addition of compost. Adding blood and bone to sandy or a heavier soil which is not too rich in nutrients will also help. Don’t plant Broccoli seedlings in your veggie bed if you’ve grown it before in the past 3 years. You may get a disease called Club Root that causes you Broccoli plant to wilt regardless of how much water you give it. Remember the acronym. LRLC-Legumes, root veg, leafy then Cucurbits, Brassicas.Harvest broccoli heads when they have reached maximum size, are still compact, and before the buds loosen, open into flowers, or turn yellow. It will be about 70-90 days or 2 ½ -3 months, when your Broccoli will be ready if you plant it now, in time for a Spring crop
No Design Elements this week:
Feature Interview: A short interview with John Page, volunteer guide at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. John talks about the Walk and Talk that he co created with Brian called Garden Memories of War and Peace. 16th April:2-4pm Garden Memories of War and Peace. Discover the stories behind plants and memorials and the importance of the gardens to generations of military personnel.
Plant of the Week. melicope elleryana. Doughwood or Corkwood. The Pink Flowered Doughwood is usually found in riverine rainforest areas.
That should give you a hint of this tree’s requirements. It definitely will not grow well in sandy soil. The one at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is a magnificent specimen growing next to the Moore building. In my yard it’s underperforming and losing quite a lot of top canopy because it can’t cope with insufficient water and growing in poor soil. Where it is, it’s not for above a sandstone rock shelf and definitely not worth trying there. The flowers are certainly showy and look spectacular on a well growing tree. In it’s natural habitat in northern NSW and further up, it attracts the Papilio ulysses. Ulysses butterfly. A fast growing, evergreen, large shrub or small to medium tree, forming a broad, spreading canopy which is excellent for shade. Cut back in Spring if it becomes too leggy.
What's On: On Sunday 17 April, there’s a free guided Tall Timbers walk from the City of Ryde. Enjoy an easy 3km walk through the remnant Blue Gum Forest in Darvall Park. You may wish to stay on to ride the steam trains after the walk. (Sydney Live Steam Locomotive - $2 adults, $1 children). The walk will go from 1pm to 3pm, and you should meet at 12.45pm at the playground by West Parade, Denistone. Bookings essential on 9952 8222. This is one of several free school holiday activities – find out more at ryde.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 9952 8222.
Wildlife in Focus: Kurtis talks about the Eastern Yellow Robin, it's habitat, call and much more. Hear it .....
Podcast Powered By Podbean
Bill Rankin and Tony Bayliss of the Wildlife Sound Recording Group www.awsrg.org.au have kindly provided RWG with wildlife sound recordings for our 'Wildlife in Focus" episodes.
For more info on the Eastern Yellow Robin see http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/
Vegetable Heroes: Broccoli, Brassica oleracea var italica. Broccoli is not too choosy about the site it grows in but prefers to be in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade with no problems. Although, growing in too much shade will reduce the size of the Broccoli head. The ideal soil is a reasonably heavy (not pure clay) A light soil can be improved by the addition of compost. Adding blood and bone to sandy or a heavier soil which is not too rich in nutrients will also help. Don’t plant Broccoli seedlings in your veggie bed if you’ve grown it before in the past 3 years. You may get a disease called Club Root that causes you Broccoli plant to wilt regardless of how much water you give it. Remember the acronym. LRLC-Legumes, root veg, leafy then Cucurbits, Brassicas.
No Design Elements this week:
Feature Interview: A short interview with John Page, volunteer guide at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. John talks about the Walk and Talk that he co created with Brian called Garden Memories of War and Peace. 16th April:2-4pm Garden Memories of War and Peace. Discover the stories behind plants and memorials and the importance of the gardens to generations of military personnel.
At the Moore room at Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, $15 p.p. book 9231 8304 Refreshments included.
For more info. http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Plant of the Week. melicope elleryana. Doughwood or Corkwood. The Pink Flowered Doughwood is usually found in riverine rainforest areas.
That should give you a hint of this tree’s requirements. It definitely will not grow well in sandy soil. The one at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney is a magnificent specimen growing next to the Moore building. In my yard it’s underperforming and losing quite a lot of top canopy because it can’t cope with insufficient water and growing in poor soil. Where it is, it’s not for above a sandstone rock shelf and definitely not worth trying there. The flowers are certainly showy and look spectacular on a well growing tree. In it’s natural habitat in northern NSW and further up, it attracts the Papilio ulysses. Ulysses butterfly. A fast growing, evergreen, large shrub or small to medium tree, forming a broad, spreading canopy which is excellent for shade. Cut back in Spring if it becomes too leggy.
What's On: On Sunday 17 April, there’s a free guided Tall Timbers walk from the City of Ryde. Enjoy an easy 3km walk through the remnant Blue Gum Forest in Darvall Park. You may wish to stay on to ride the steam trains after the walk. (Sydney Live Steam Locomotive - $2 adults, $1 children). The walk will go from 1pm to 3pm, and you should meet at 12.45pm at the playground by West Parade, Denistone. Bookings essential on 9952 8222. This is one of several free school holiday activities – find out more at ryde.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 9952 8222.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Call Robbie?
Real World Gardener today (23rd March 2011) focuses on Bandicoots, an alien vegetable Kohlrabi, and a crazy creeper from Rangoon.:
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.
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.Sunday, 13 March 2011
Talking Turkey, Brush Turkey That Is!
REAL WORLD GARDENER Wed. 5pm 2RRR 88.5fm Sydney Radio
Wildlife in Focus: Kurtis Lindsay, Honours Biology student at Macquarie University, talks about Alectura lathami, or Brush Turkey. Here the podcast, available until 13th April 2011.
Vegetable Hero: What is Parsnip? Pastinaca sativa, a member of the Apiaceae family-same as carrots, Parsley and Celeriac. For temperate areas around Australia, March is the last month you can sow the seeds of parsnip. Best planted at soil temperatures between 6°C and 21°C. Best grown in deep sandy, loamy soil. After planting keep seeds moist - can cover with a moist newspaper or mulch - until seeds germinate. Parsnips need to be started from seed. They resent being transplanted even more than Coriander. They just won’t grow. Fresh seed is a major requirement because the viability of Parsnip is about 12 months. Tip: Soak the seeds overnight in a shallow saucer. There’s no need to drown them. Keep your parsnip seedlings growing strongly with regular watering and applications of liquid seaweed, liquid manure or compost tea. Harvest in 17-20 weeks, that’s 4-5 months.
Design Elements: Playing With Plants. Lesley Simpson, Garden Designer talks about stage 6 of your garden design for a border. Whatever plants you have chosen, ornamental or herb or vegetable, today's the day to decide how to plant them. Listen hear to the podcast, available until April 13th 2011.
Wildlife in Focus: Kurtis Lindsay, Honours Biology student at Macquarie University, talks about Alectura lathami, or Brush Turkey. Here the podcast, available until 13th April 2011.
Vegetable Hero: What is Parsnip? Pastinaca sativa, a member of the Apiaceae family-same as carrots, Parsley and Celeriac. For temperate areas around Australia, March is the last month you can sow the seeds of parsnip. Best planted at soil temperatures between 6°C and 21°C. Best grown in deep sandy, loamy soil. After planting keep seeds moist - can cover with a moist newspaper or mulch - until seeds germinate. Parsnips need to be started from seed. They resent being transplanted even more than Coriander. They just won’t grow. Fresh seed is a major requirement because the viability of Parsnip is about 12 months. Tip: Soak the seeds overnight in a shallow saucer. There’s no need to drown them. Keep your parsnip seedlings growing strongly with regular watering and applications of liquid seaweed, liquid manure or compost tea. Harvest in 17-20 weeks, that’s 4-5 months.
Design Elements: Playing With Plants. Lesley Simpson, Garden Designer talks about stage 6 of your garden design for a border. Whatever plants you have chosen, ornamental or herb or vegetable, today's the day to decide how to plant them. Listen hear to the podcast, available until April 13th 2011.
Plant of the Week: Melastoma affine, or Native Lasiandra.
Native lassiandra. This Australian plant is a brittle shrub to 2 m, having dark green leaves to about 10 cm with a few prominent veins. Flowers are large, 7 cm, with usually 5 mauve petals. These are followed by fruits which split open to reveal red to purple flesh with numerous small seeds. It is supposed to be edible and to make your tongue go purple! I have not found them to be tasty, but edible. The pollen of the flowers is in deep pores of the stamens and need the help of Australian native bees that are able to 'buzz' pollinate.
Prune often to make this shrub compact. The leaves look very similar to other Tibouchinas. This plant is a fast grower and will tolerate most soils. Some watering is needed in very dry conditions. Grows best in warm temperate areas. For all other areas, a microclimate is recommended.
What's On:On March 19th Willoughby Council is running a workshop called Habitat Gardens from 9am to noon. This practical workshop looks at local native animals and explores different ways to provide or improve habitat for them in your backyard. It will include native plant species selection, planting strategies, and other natural elements that are important for habitat including simple structures you can build. RSVP by 11 March to Liz Powell at Willoughby Council on 9777 7871.Thursday 19th March the City ofRyde Lane Cove River
Native lassiandra. This Australian plant is a brittle shrub to 2 m, having dark green leaves to about 10 cm with a few prominent veins. Flowers are large, 7 cm, with usually 5 mauve petals. These are followed by fruits which split open to reveal red to purple flesh with numerous small seeds. It is supposed to be edible and to make your tongue go purple! I have not found them to be tasty, but edible. The pollen of the flowers is in deep pores of the stamens and need the help of Australian native bees that are able to 'buzz' pollinate.
Prune often to make this shrub compact. The leaves look very similar to other Tibouchinas. This plant is a fast grower and will tolerate most soils. Some watering is needed in very dry conditions. Grows best in warm temperate areas. For all other areas, a microclimate is recommended.
What's On:On March 19th Willoughby Council is running a workshop called Habitat Gardens from 9am to noon. This practical workshop looks at local native animals and explores different ways to provide or improve habitat for them in your backyard. It will include native plant species selection, planting strategies, and other natural elements that are important for habitat including simple structures you can build. RSVP by 11 March to Liz Powell at Willoughby Council on 9777 7871.Thursday 19th March the City of
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Dollar Bird in The Hand?
REAL WORLD GARDENER WED 5PM 2RRR 88.5 fm
Wildlife in Focus. NEW SEGMENT!
Kurtis talks about the Dollar bird. To listen, just click on the player. ( Available until 2nd March 2011)
Visit http://www.awsrg.org.au/ for hear the Dollar bird call again.
Vegetable Hero: Real World Gardener recommends growing Plectranthus amboinicus-Cuban Oregano. This powerful smelling herb seems to contain large amounts of Thymol which explains why the leaves have a very strong aroma when handled. A succulent perennial herb that can reach 50cm in height with fleshy leaves in opposite pairs. Cuban oregano's fleshy, almost succulent leaves are held tightly around the stem and are extremely aromatic. In summer the plant carries spikes of whorled, lilac-pink, mauve, or white flowers, and it lends an architectural element to an ornamental or herb container.
Cultivation: The brittle stems and leaves sort of resemble the common Coleus but are much fleshier of course. Growth is slow in the winter months and moderate in spring and summer. Heat and direct sun don't seem to adversely affect growth or appearance. Insignificant flower stems form in the autumn. It is extremely tender to frost, so grow in a protected area or keep it mobile in a pot so it can be placed in a controlled environment in the winter. Propagate vegetatively, from cuttings at anytime.
Design Elements: An introduction to designing a garden border. Start small and simple in a corner of your garden, but do it right. Here Lesley and Marianne talk about what steps you should take before you buy plants to fill your garden.
To listen, just click the player. (Available until 2nd March 2011)
Plant of the Week: Frangipani rubra. They like very well drained soil and at least 5-6 hours of sunlight a day. If they don’t get these two main growing conditions, your Frangipani tree will start to show signs of stress by getting fungal diseases, attacks from pest insects and not flowering well or at all.
Frangigpani’s prefer organic fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. Make some deep holes with a tomato stake around an established tree on the canopy edge, and drop the fertilizer in that way.
Frangipani’s have a deep tap root and many fine feeder roots. This doesn’t make their roots invasive because you would’ve seen many mature trees growing within 1-2 metres of older houses without any sign of damage to the house or lifting of any pavement.
Some highly scented cultivars are Classic Cream, Vera Cruz Rose, Charlotte ebert, and Orange Glow.
Wildlife in Focus. NEW SEGMENT!
Kurtis talks about the Dollar bird. To listen, just click on the player. ( Available until 2nd March 2011)
Visit http://www.awsrg.org.au/ for hear the Dollar bird call again.
Vegetable Hero: Real World Gardener recommends growing Plectranthus amboinicus-Cuban Oregano. This powerful smelling herb seems to contain large amounts of Thymol which explains why the leaves have a very strong aroma when handled. A succulent perennial herb that can reach 50cm in height with fleshy leaves in opposite pairs. Cuban oregano's fleshy, almost succulent leaves are held tightly around the stem and are extremely aromatic. In summer the plant carries spikes of whorled, lilac-pink, mauve, or white flowers, and it lends an architectural element to an ornamental or herb container.
Cultivation: The brittle stems and leaves sort of resemble the common Coleus but are much fleshier of course. Growth is slow in the winter months and moderate in spring and summer. Heat and direct sun don't seem to adversely affect growth or appearance. Insignificant flower stems form in the autumn. It is extremely tender to frost, so grow in a protected area or keep it mobile in a pot so it can be placed in a controlled environment in the winter. Propagate vegetatively, from cuttings at anytime.
Design Elements: An introduction to designing a garden border. Start small and simple in a corner of your garden, but do it right. Here Lesley and Marianne talk about what steps you should take before you buy plants to fill your garden.
To listen, just click the player. (Available until 2nd March 2011)
Plant of the Week: Frangipani rubra. They like very well drained soil and at least 5-6 hours of sunlight a day. If they don’t get these two main growing conditions, your Frangipani tree will start to show signs of stress by getting fungal diseases, attacks from pest insects and not flowering well or at all.
Frangigpani’s prefer organic fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season. Make some deep holes with a tomato stake around an established tree on the canopy edge, and drop the fertilizer in that way.
Frangipani’s have a deep tap root and many fine feeder roots. This doesn’t make their roots invasive because you would’ve seen many mature trees growing within 1-2 metres of older houses without any sign of damage to the house or lifting of any pavement.
Some highly scented cultivars are Classic Cream, Vera Cruz Rose, Charlotte ebert, and Orange Glow.
What'sOn
If you enjoy propagating plants and would like to be involved in making your community a greener place, you might like to join the Growers for Greenspace project. This is a regional program organized by the Parramatta River Catchment Group in which a number of local councils are involved including Hunters Hill. Participants will be growing native plants in a little greenhouse at their own home, for use in community areas such as parks and reserves.
If you enjoy propagating plants and would like to be involved in making your community a greener place, you might like to join the Growers for Greenspace project. This is a regional program organized by the Parramatta River Catchment Group in which a number of local councils are involved including Hunters Hill. Participants will be growing native plants in a little greenhouse at their own home, for use in community areas such as parks and reserves.
The Growers for Greenspace program will run at Ryde TAFE on three Tuesdays – the 8th March, 29th March and 3rd May. More info is available at parramattariver.org.au or call Sue Stevens at Strathfield Council on 9748 9940.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Connecting with a Historical Past
Real World Gardener Wed 5pm, Sat 12noon 2RRR 88.5fm
Feature Interview: Talking with Hazel King, Horticlturalist, AIH member, accredited garden judge. Hazel was the daughter of the Head gardener of Yaralla, the home od the late Dame Edith Walker, in West Concord. A magnificent garden with 27 gardeners on the estate to provide the owners and those living on the estate with fresh produce and flowers for the table. Hazel King was also the judge for the Ryde Spring garden competition this year.Find more information on Yaralla at http://www.concordheritage.asn.au/chs-yaralla.htm
Vegetable Heroes:Tomato, Lycospericon esculentum, Family Solanaceae. In the 18th century Carl Linnaeus created binomial nomenclature to name species, was keeping in mind that people thought tomatoes were poisonous because they came from the Nightshade family. So Linnaeus gave them the scientific name of Lycopersicon esculentum, which literally means, "edible wolf peach". Old German folklore claimed that witches used plants of the nightshade family to evoke werewolves, a practice known as lycanthropy. The common German name for tomatoes translates to "wolf peach", and was avoided for obvious reasons. Growing your tomatoes:
Listen to the podcast. http://realworldgardener.podbean.com/
Plant of the Week: Beaumontia grandiflora, Herald Trumpet Vine. Family, Apocynaceae. Beaumontia is a climbing vine that can be very vigorous. The foliage is semi-evergreen. The leaves are glossy green on the upper surface and dark green and hairy underneath. They measure more than 20 cm long and have prominent venation. The woody trunk and branches act like wires to enable the plant to grow in height. The plant produces oblong green fruits from the end of summer through autumn. After the flowering season, the plant may lose a few leaves or the leaves go a purple shade on their tips as a response to cold in temperate regions. In sub-tropical and tropical areas it is evergreen.
Under 15°C, the plant will not flower so you probably can’t grow it if you live in theBlue Mountains .. The plant grows ideally in a heated veranda or hot glasshouse. Beaumontia grandiflora demands a lot of light and humidity.
Soil must be rich and well-drained. Beaumontia does best in light, but do not place it under a direct sun. Keep soil moist for best results.When we propagate from the vine, we have to wear gloves to avoid getting the milky sap all over us. It’s relatively easy to grow from cuttings, but you do need a green house with bottom heat and misting. Semi hard wood cuttings work best with nodes close together. If you don't have a green house, put the cuttings in a peat:sand mixture and cover with a plastic bag. Using a wire frame around the cuttings to prefent them touching the plastic.
These plants are available from the Sydney Botanic Gardens, Growing Friends'nursery. Opening times:M-F, 11.30-2pm. www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
What's On: www.discoverhuntershill.com.au Sunday 7 November from
Feature Interview: Talking with Hazel King, Horticlturalist, AIH member, accredited garden judge. Hazel was the daughter of the Head gardener of Yaralla, the home od the late Dame Edith Walker, in West Concord. A magnificent garden with 27 gardeners on the estate to provide the owners and those living on the estate with fresh produce and flowers for the table. Hazel King was also the judge for the Ryde Spring garden competition this year.Find more information on Yaralla at http://www.concordheritage.asn.au/chs-yaralla.htm
Vegetable Heroes:Tomato, Lycospericon esculentum, Family Solanaceae. In the 18th century Carl Linnaeus created binomial nomenclature to name species, was keeping in mind that people thought tomatoes were poisonous because they came from the Nightshade family. So Linnaeus gave them the scientific name of Lycopersicon esculentum, which literally means, "edible wolf peach". Old German folklore claimed that witches used plants of the nightshade family to evoke werewolves, a practice known as lycanthropy. The common German name for tomatoes translates to "wolf peach", and was avoided for obvious reasons. Growing your tomatoes:
- Growing tomatoes has to be in full sun at least 6 hours.
- When you plant your seedling, this is about the only plant I know that you pile the soil higher than it was in the pot. That way, it grows extra roots to support the plant. At the same time, put in a tomato stake of some kind and sprinkle some Dolomite around the plant. The Dolomite-Calcium Magnesium Carbonate is to prevent that blackening of the bottom of the tomato called blossom end rot.
- A good tip is to put some hydrated water crystals in the bottom of the planting hole.
Sydney - Mulch with Hay, lucerne tea tree or some home made compost, which will break down over the next few weeks.
- As soon as your tomato gets the first yellow flower, you need to start fortnightly feeds with a liquid tomato food. Cow Manure is not enough…it doesn’t have anywhere near the right amount of Potassium. That’s needed to bring on the flowers and fruit..
- Now when you get to four trusses (or branches of flowers) nip out top of the plant. By this stage you should have plenty of fruits forming that need to grow and ripen. You need to do this mainly because you want the plant to put all its energy into the fruits. And…you don’t want it growing taller than you tomato stake and flopping all over the place.
- Keep the soil moist by regular watering and using a mulch of some kind. Feed weekly with tomato fertiliser. Irregular watering or drying out of the soil or compost in very hot weather can result in the fruits splitting. The inside grows faster than the skin, splits and unless eaten quickly, disease very quickly enters the damaged area and the tomato disposed of. If you ate only one tomato a day, you would get 40% of you daily requirements of Vitamin C and 20% of Vitamin A. Don't forget to email you garden question or tip to realworldgardener@gmail.com
Listen to the podcast. http://realworldgardener.podbean.com/
Plant of the Week: Beaumontia grandiflora, Herald Trumpet Vine. Family, Apocynaceae. Beaumontia is a climbing vine that can be very vigorous. The foliage is semi-evergreen. The leaves are glossy green on the upper surface and dark green and hairy underneath. They measure more than 20 cm long and have prominent venation. The woody trunk and branches act like wires to enable the plant to grow in height. The plant produces oblong green fruits from the end of summer through autumn. After the flowering season, the plant may lose a few leaves or the leaves go a purple shade on their tips as a response to cold in temperate regions. In sub-tropical and tropical areas it is evergreen.
Under 15°C, the plant will not flower so you probably can’t grow it if you live in the
Soil must be rich and well-drained. Beaumontia does best in light, but do not place it under a direct sun. Keep soil moist for best results.When we propagate from the vine, we have to wear gloves to avoid getting the milky sap all over us. It’s relatively easy to grow from cuttings, but you do need a green house with bottom heat and misting. Semi hard wood cuttings work best with nodes close together. If you don't have a green house, put the cuttings in a peat:sand mixture and cover with a plastic bag. Using a wire frame around the cuttings to prefent them touching the plastic.
These plants are available from the Sydney Botanic Gardens, Growing Friends'nursery. Opening times:M-F, 11.30-2pm. www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
What's On: www.discoverhuntershill.com.au Sunday 7 November from
On10:00am – 12:30pm there’s a Gladesville Hospital and Priory Walk led by Peter Colthorpe, chair of Friends of Gladesville Hospital. Meet at The Priory, 2 Salter St. , Gladesville. By donation for repairs to The Priory. Bookings and enquiries 0434 673 101
Also on Sunday 7 November the city of Ryde 19 Lawson St , Eastwood. Bookings essential on 9952 8222.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Tea Tree or not to Tea Tree
Real World Gardener 2RRR 88.5 fm Wed. 5pm, Sat. 12noon
Feature Interview: Talking to Peter Kinnard from Northern rivers tea tree plantation. Peter talks about the benefits of using tea tree mulch-moisture retention, adding nutrients to the soil, and enables rain penetration around the roots of the plant. Mulch thickness recommended 2-3 inches or 5-7 cm.
Tea tree Oil placed on ant trail deters ant: on end of broom deters spiders.
Vegetable Hero: Beans-Phaseolus vulgaris.To grow beans you need up to four months of warm weather. Beans, either climbing or Dwarf Beans, sometimes called French Beans, don’t like the cold at all Beans are best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. so planting them from now on is good.. Easy to grow. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. About 2.5cm or 1-inch or depending on the size of the bean I guess.Go easy on the fertiliser or you’ll get lots of leaves and no beans. the most important nutritional fact for beans is that they provide a major source of soluble fibre, which, when passing through the digestive tract grabs and traps bile that contains cholesterol, removing it from the body before it's absorbed
Design Elements. Introduction to "Structure in the Garden."
Listen to the podcast: http://realworldgardener.podbean.com
Plant of the Week:Babiana anbd Bluebells.Bluebells Botanical name: Scilla hispanica Spanish Bluebell, and Hycinthoides Hispanic for English Bluebell. Family: Liliaceae. Plant/bulb type: True bulb Planting time: Late Summer to Autumn. Height: 20cm tall. Depth & spacing: 6cm deep & 5-10cm apart. Aspect: Full sun to half shade. Filtered light is well tolerated. Soil: Well drained. Rich soil is ideal if you are going to allow the bulbs to naturalise.Flowering time: Early Spring.After flowering care: These bulbs can be left undisturbed for years. Comments: Also known as the “wood hyacinth” this bulb is wonderful when planted in drifts, large clumps, pockets or pots.The English Bluebell is usually found in woods. It is unusual to find it on open ground. When the flowers are fully formed, the stalk of English Bluebells curves downwards to give its characteristic look. One why to help identify an English Bluebell is to see if all the flowers are in the same side of the stalk. As all the flowers on an English Bluebell are on the same side of the stalk, the effect of gravity pulls the stalk over into a beautiful curve. The Spanish Bluebell is usually found open ground. It is unusual to find it in woods. When the flowers are fully formed, the stalk of Spanish Bluebells is straight. One why to help identify an Spanish Bluebell is to see if the flowers are all around the stalk. As all the flowers on an Spanish Bluebell are on the same side of the stalk and the stalk is thicker than the English Bluebell, the effect of gravity does not operate in the same way on the Spanish Bluebell so that it keeps its characteristic straight stalk.
ALL BULBS CULTIVATION NOTES:
Spring flower bulbs are very simple to grow & most have similar requirements so that once you understand the basics you can grow almost any bulbs with ease.Planting time: For best results, plant Spring flower bulbs April to May (Australia
What's On:Granny Smith festival, Saturday 16th October, Easwood Plaza.
2RRR will be broadcasting "live," from Eastwood Mall.
Real World Gardener will be going "live" at 12 noon!
Feature Interview: Talking to Peter Kinnard from Northern rivers tea tree plantation. Peter talks about the benefits of using tea tree mulch-moisture retention, adding nutrients to the soil, and enables rain penetration around the roots of the plant. Mulch thickness recommended 2-3 inches or 5-7 cm.
Tea tree Oil placed on ant trail deters ant: on end of broom deters spiders.
Vegetable Hero: Beans-Phaseolus vulgaris.To grow beans you need up to four months of warm weather. Beans, either climbing or Dwarf Beans, sometimes called French Beans, don’t like the cold at all Beans are best planted at soil temperatures between 16°C and 30°C. so planting them from now on is good.. Easy to grow. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. About 2.5cm or 1-inch or depending on the size of the bean I guess.Go easy on the fertiliser or you’ll get lots of leaves and no beans. the most important nutritional fact for beans is that they provide a major source of soluble fibre, which, when passing through the digestive tract grabs and traps bile that contains cholesterol, removing it from the body before it's absorbed
Design Elements. Introduction to "Structure in the Garden."
Listen to the podcast: http://realworldgardener.podbean.com
Plant of the Week:Babiana anbd Bluebells.Bluebells Botanical name: Scilla hispanica Spanish Bluebell, and Hycinthoides Hispanic for English Bluebell. Family: Liliaceae. Plant/bulb type: True bulb Planting time: Late Summer to Autumn. Height: 20cm tall. Depth & spacing: 6cm deep & 5-10cm apart. Aspect: Full sun to half shade. Filtered light is well tolerated. Soil: Well drained. Rich soil is ideal if you are going to allow the bulbs to naturalise.Flowering time: Early Spring.After flowering care: These bulbs can be left undisturbed for years. Comments: Also known as the “wood hyacinth” this bulb is wonderful when planted in drifts, large clumps, pockets or pots.The English Bluebell is usually found in woods. It is unusual to find it on open ground. When the flowers are fully formed, the stalk of English Bluebells curves downwards to give its characteristic look. One why to help identify an English Bluebell is to see if all the flowers are in the same side of the stalk. As all the flowers on an English Bluebell are on the same side of the stalk, the effect of gravity pulls the stalk over into a beautiful curve. The Spanish Bluebell is usually found open ground. It is unusual to find it in woods. When the flowers are fully formed, the stalk of Spanish Bluebells is straight. One why to help identify an Spanish Bluebell is to see if the flowers are all around the stalk. As all the flowers on an Spanish Bluebell are on the same side of the stalk and the stalk is thicker than the English Bluebell, the effect of gravity does not operate in the same way on the Spanish Bluebell so that it keeps its characteristic straight stalk.
ALL BULBS CULTIVATION NOTES:
Spring flower bulbs are very simple to grow & most have similar requirements so that once you understand the basics you can grow almost any bulbs with ease.Planting time: For best results, plant Spring flower bulbs April to May (
What's On:Granny Smith festival, Saturday 16th October, Easwood Plaza.
2RRR will be broadcasting "live," from Eastwood Mall.
Real World Gardener will be going "live" at 12 noon!
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