Best Camellias and Better Parsnips

SOIL SAVVY

Have you noticed some plants in your garden that look like they’re wilting even though you’re watering them?


Tree health reflects what is below ground. photo M Cannon

Then the whole thing dies and you plant another one in the same spot.
Guess what the same thing happens.
Something’s going on with your soil surely?
Let’s find out what it is now.
I'm talking with Penny Smith, a horticultural scientist who specializes in soil science.

Your soil needs lots of animals or mini beasts and micro-organisms to be healthy.
Commercial compost although sterilised, does have some of these things because it's compost after all and does break down.


Tree rot photo M Cannon

Root disease can occur when you've disturbed the roots.
Dieback here are there on the plant is one of the symptoms as is wilting and not recovering after watering.
The plant above the soil reflects what happens below the soil, so that if there's damage to certain roots from either disease or cultivation, then that will show up above the soil.
This might mean death of some branches.
Fungal diseases that grow in your soil are only growing bigger every time you water that wilting plant.
Before you replace it with another, take out soil from that failed location and put in a heap of compost.
Hopefully the micro organisms will overtake that fungus and so killing off that fungal infection and let your plant survive.
If you have any questions about disease in your soil or have some information to share, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

VEGETABLE HEROES

Recently I saw a comedienne ask her audience what the name of the vegetable she was holding.
A couple of them said Swede which was close, others didn’t have a clue.
Iit was actually a Parsnip.
Did you know that the Romans ate Parsnips?
In the Middle Ages, especially during Lent, Europeans ate parsnips because of its flavour, and satisfied their hunger through meatless fasting periods
Interestingly, before sugar was widely available, parsnips were used to sweeten dishes such as cakes and jams, and they were also commonly used for making beer and wine.

Parsnips have been grown by the Germans for more than 200 years, along the banks of the Rhine which is a well known wine making region.
I wonder if there’s a connection?
But as the weather cools down, are you starting to think of slow cooked meals that need flavouring type vegetables like carrots and parsnip?
Not Swedes, but those pointy cream coloured thing. No, not Daikon or white radish either, that’s much larger.
What is Parsnip? Pastinaca sativa, a member of the Apiaceae family-same as carrots, Parsley and Celeriac.
These vegetables may look like white carrots but, although related, they have a totally different flavour and are much closer to parsley or celery.
For arid zones, April to October, April to September in sub-tropical climates, July through to March in temperate zones and August to February for cool temperate districts,
Parsnips are best planted at soil temperatures between 6°C and 21°C.
If you can grow carrots, you can grow parsnips.
You need the same type of soil, friable, not sandy and not clayey. A pH of 6.5-7. Yes, do go out and buy that pH testing kit.
If high school geography students can measure pH, so can you.
As with carrots, soil with stones or compacted soil will give you deformed and stunted turnips that not only look funny, but taste a bit that way as well.
After planting keep the seeds moist  perhaps by covering them  with a wooden plank or mulch until seeds germinate.
Parsnips are difficult to grow in summer as the seed dries out fast and won't germinate
How to Sow Parsnips
Parsnips need to be started from seed. Because they resent being transplanted even more than Coriander.

They just won’t grow.
I haven’t seen Parsnip for sale in a punnet anyway.
Sow Parsnip seed in directly into the garden.
Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
Now I read this information on the back of the Parsnip seed packet, and wonder, are there gardeners out there with their micrometers measuring the width of the tiny seeds? 
Parsnip seeds are quite small, so I just give the soil a light covering of seed raising mix and hope for the best.
Germination rates of parsnip seed are not great so sow about 3 seeds per couple of centimetres.
Germination may take up to 20 days.
Fresh seed is a major requirement because the viability of Parsnip is about 12 months.
If you have left over seed from the previous year, you may as well forget it.
Tip: Soak the seeds overnight in a shallow saucer.
I always say: There’s no need to drown them.
Thin seedlings down so they are about 8cm apart.
If you are planting in rows then space the rows about 50cm apart.
So are we out there with our rulers measuring judiciously? 8 cm here, 50 cm there.
No matter which book you consult, you never get practical advice.
For me, four fingers across measures 7 cm, and that’s plenty good enough because with gardening gloves, I’ll get my 8cm spacing.
Did I mention that parsnip is a flavouring vegetable?

Parsnip flowers

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.
If you plants seeds in March, expect results in July sometime.
Parsnips have the best flavour if harvested after a frost or very cold weather.
.The cold results in the starch in the roots being converted into sugars which give the parsnip its sweet taste. Use a spade to dig the parsnip out of the ground.
Why is it good for you?
Well, parsnips don’t keep that long so if they’ve been in the greengrocer or supermarket shelf for more than a few days, than they’re probably tasteless, rubbery, and probably what put you off parsnip in the first place.
Nutritionally the parsnip is superior to the potato containing Vitamins C, E, K and B6.
They also contain Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, along with high quantities of potassium, which is an energy booster and good for the immune system

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Now that you know what your soil pH is in most of your garden, or you’re going to find out soon, what’s the ideal pH for plants to grow in?

What can you do if you don’t have that ideal pH and how do you actually use that pH kit?

Let’s find out in this segment about soil pH. I'm talking with Glenice Buck, Consulting Arborist and Landscape Designer.




Alkaline soil pH

Acid soil pH

Just a reminder that soil pH is important because it influences how easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil.



If you’re soil’s too acidic or too alkaline, it will take quite a few months to change the pH, but that doesn’t mean you should give up now.

Measuring pH is easy even with the most basic kit.
All you need to do is dig up some soil samples from several parts of your garden, and spritz them with some water, but don't make the soil sample soggy. Next add a few drops of dye indicator fluid followed by a few shakes of the powder (Barium sulphate.)
Wait a couple of minutes and the powder should colour up.
You can then compare the colour of the powder with the soil pH chart.
 

PLANT OF THE WEEK

CAMELLIA SPECIES: Which are your favourite?
There are many gardening books written and societies that you can join dedicated to the many flowerways of this next plant.


Camellia reticulata Red Crystal photo M Cannon

Camellia Grape Soda

Flowerways is my invention for the many flower type variations and colours that you can choose from.
There are even plant nurseries dedicated to growing this one genus with an endless selection that you can buy.
Surely there’s something that you could find to love for your garden.
Let’s find out what it is. I'm talking with the plant panel who were Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au





Camellia Easter Morn

Camellias Australia www.camelliasaustralia.com.au say that the camellia growing areas are in a coastal band on most of the eastern coast of Australia and the southern coast (and Tasmania) with occasional penetration of the interior such as Canberra, the national capital, Albury and Narrandera, and some regions with higher altitude such as the Central Tablelands of NSW and Mount Tamborine in Queensland.
So pretty much everywhere.
If you have any questions about growing Camellias, why not write in to realworldgardener@gmail.com

 

Minty Spice and All Things Nice

SPICE IT UP

MINTS
Originally taken as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains, nowadays it’s mostly called upon for soothing indigestion to heartburn and the common cold to bad breath.
There are three common mints:

1. Mentha viridis or common min has a rounded leaf and not as bright as
2. Mentha spicata or spearmint which has a more elongated leaf. 
3. Then there's Peppermint, Mentha x piperita, which is a cross between spearmint and watermint.

Mentha spicata

Not all mints are equal and if you want to add the best culinary type mint to your cooking then you need to pay attention to this next segment. Let’s find out what it is now. I'm talking with Not all mints are equal and if you want to add the best culinary type mint to your cooking then you need to pay attention to this next segment.
I'm talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

Not all mints are equal and if you want to add the best culinary type mint to your cooking then you need to pay attention to this next segment.
Herbies Spices sells dried mint which is imported from Turkey.
Peppermint wasn't known in the UK until the 1700's.

Peppermint

Peppermint is mostly used medicinally and in sweets or confectionary, but not in savoury cooking.
Apple mint is a less common mint but can be used in cooking. Apple mint flavour goes well with peas and in mint ice.
On the other hand Eau de Cologne mint is not suitable in any recipe.
Although mint is easy to grow, its roots, which are called "runners," are also incredibly invasive: they quickly grow, sprouting new leaves and new plants as they go.
Mint will overtake a flower bed or garden in no time if you're not careful
If you have any questions about Wollemi Pines or have some information to share, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

VEGETABLE HEROES

Nasturtiums or Tropaeolum majus.
Did you know that Nasturtium plants were discovered in the jungles of Peru and Mexico in the 16th century?
The common name nasturtium comes from the Latin words for nose (nas), and tortum (twist), which is supposed to be because of a persons’ reaction when tasting the spicy, peppery leaves.

Nasturtiums

Renaissance botanists named it after watercress, (Nasturtium officinale in Latin) which has a similar taste.
And the second part of the latin name came about in the seventeen hundreds.
The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus named them after the Latin word tropaeolum, meaning trophy.
Linnaeus compared the funnel shape of nasturtium’s flowers to battle helmets and its flat leaves to shields, which were traditionally hung on trees after an army was victorious.
The original plant would’ve been a small vine with orange-yellow flowers with dark red spots on the petals and shield-shaped leaves.
 According to Jesuit missionaries, the Incas used nasturtiums as a salad vegetable and as a medicinal herb.
Over the centuries as plants-men derived different colours and variegation on their leaves, there was a shift from Nasturtiums being thought of as a herb to more of an ornamental plant.
Monet used to let Nasturtiums ramble in one part of his garden in Giverny, France.
Why Grow Nasturtiums
Tropaeolum majus or Nasturtiums are easy to grow, edible, cheerful and they are great companion plants as well!
Nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests.
Plant them with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, broccoli, and under fruit trees.
They come in bright colour as well as soft tones-variegated leaves such as the Alaska series, or plain leaves-even dwarf varieties that grow to 50cm tall while others can be used as a vine, climbing 1 ½ metres or more!
Nasturtiums are often found in neglected or older gardens because they don’t need too much care once they get started.

Tropaeolum majus

So What Do Modern Day Nasturtiums Look Like?
Firstly, 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/early winter 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.
I've found the trick with nasturtiums is to keep them watered during the entire growing season.
Especially when they are in containers.
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 give you lots of flowers.
The soil shouldn't be too rich because you will get more leaves than flowers.
Grow them in sandy and they will still thrive.
You can use wine barrel planters, window boxes or porch boxes too.
Pick the flowers often once they start coming, and you will have many more,
So why are nasturtiums a herb?
Because the entire plant is edible as long as you don’t use pesticides!  
Keep it organic and you’ll find this peppery plant is perfect for salads, herb vinegars, appetizers and garnishes.
Try mixing assorted greens such as romaine, radicchio, spinach and arugula or rocket with a handful of nasturtium blooms topped with your favourite dressing.
You can decorate cupcakes with Nasturtium flowers on top of the frosting for something really different!
Nasturtium vinegar is easy too, just 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.
Did you know that the seeds were ground during World War II as a replacement for pepper and you can still do this. Wait for the seeds to dry-they are larger than peppercorns-and grind them in a grinder.
You can add this mixture with herbs to make a savoury herb salt as well.

NASTURTIUM SEEDS

 Store in tightly closed bottles.
The fresh seeds can be pickled as a type of substitution for capers, which are fairly expensive. You can find more recipes and uses for Nasturtiums on the internet. Try putting in the words “old fashioned living.” http://oldfashionedliving.com/nasturtiums.html
So why are they good for you?
Nasturtiums were known to help prevent scurvy, since the leaves are rich in Vitamin C.
The leaves of Nasturtiums also contain iron and  have antibiotic properties which are more effective just before the plant flowers.
In traditional medicine an ointment is made from nasturtium flowers and used to treat skin conditions as well as hair loss.
AND THAT WAS YOUR VEGETABLE HERO FOR TODAY?

DESIGN ELEMENTS

SOIL pH series introduction


Chlorosis, or iron deficiency

This next topic isn’t all that glamourous but can mean that your garden plants won’t grow as well if you do nothing about it.
Plants will be stunted, or have deformed leaves, even yellowing leaves with green veins can be one of the outcomes.
You’ll often read or hear the recommendation to check soil pH, but what does that really mean?
Pity about the topic name but let’s find out in this introduction to soil pH.
I'm talking with Glenice Buck, Consulting Arborist and Landscape Designer. www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

Soil pH measures the alkalinity or acidity levels in the soil.
This ranges from '0' to ;14' on a pH scale, where pH 7 is considered neutral.

pH chart

Levels falling below 7 are acidic and those above 7 are considered alkaline.
Soil pH is important because it influences how easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil.
Did you know that plant roots absorb mineral nutrients such as nitrogen and iron when they are dissolved in water?
If the soil solution (the mixture of water and nutrients in the soil) is too acid or alkaline, some nutrients won’t dissolve easily, so they won’t be available for uptake by roots.
If you have any questions about measuring soil pH drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Leptospermum laevigatum Foreshore

Leptospermum laevigatum Foreshore photo PMA

Some native plants can grow in next to nothing soil, on rocky outcrops, be battered by salt laden winds and receive almost no water, but still keep on growing.
These plants have developed tactics to keep surviving in such harsh conditions so when you transfer them to your garden, they’re practically low maintenance.
Let’s find out about this new low native shrubs. I'm talking with the plant panel: Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

2.5 year old tea tree hedge. photo PMA

Leptospermum laevigatum Foreshore, grows to only 50 cm in height and is of course a tea tree. A native alternative to box hedges and is perfect for low hedge planting because not only are the plants tough but you won’t have to keep pruning them every couple of weeks to keep them to size.



Once established it is reasonably dry tolerant requiring only occasional deep watering during
extended periods of heat.

Tea trees can be planted in most soil types that are well draining.

Best grown in full sun but will tolerate part shade.

   

PERFUME PRINCESS AND ARCHANGELS

FEATURE INTERVIEW

Wollemi pine photo Louise Brooks

WOLLEMI PINE Wollemia nobilis


The Wollemi pine is regarded as a Dinosaur plant because fossil evidence has dated it to have been around during the Jurassic period.

Way back in 1994, a chance discovery in the Wollemi National Park, by ranger David Noble and a couple of mates led to this tree being recognized as one of the rarest trees on the planet.

You can grow  buy a Wollemi pine for your home garden but need to know some expert tips as in the next segment.


Let’s find out what they are. Occasional reporter for Real World Gardener Louise Brooks is
That was Dr Cathy Offord, Research Scientist and The Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan.
She was speaking with occasional producer Louise Brooks.

 

 

PLAY: Wollemi Pine Garden care_11 May 2016 from 2006

.


Wollemi pine photo Louise Brooks

In the home garden, the Wollemi pine needs only 20% - 50% sunlight because that mimics the light level where they grow naturally.
Failure occur when Wollemi pines are grown in full sun.
Wollemi pines are the least heat tolerant of all the Araucariaceae family which includes Bunya pines and Hoop pines, disliking anything above 37 degrees centigrade.
They grow best on the south side of buildings and can be grown in a large pot.
Annually cut of the top of the Wollemi pine because they'll re-sprout.
Don't overwater or keep a saucer under the pot or container.
As for fertilising the good news is any general fertiliser will do as they haven't shown to be phosphorous sensitive.
Just remember that they have the potential to be large trees, growing to 35 metres in their natural setting, albeit very slow growing.
If you have any questions about Wollemi Pines or have some information to share, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

VEGETABLE HEROES

Angelica archangelica or just Angelica

There are other varieties of angelica but only the one with the scientific name Angelica archangelica can be used in cooking.
 Doesn’t it sound a bit religious you say?
Why’s that?
Did you know that supposedly an angel presented an angelica plant to man as a cure for the plague, and 15th and 16th century herbalists recommended eating or chewing the roots as a cure for a number of diseases?
Apparently back then, they also believed that angelica would protect against witchcraft and evil spells.
Angelica is native to Europe, Asia and North America.
Although angelica is a biennial herb-growing the first year and flowering the second-it will keep growing for a few more years if you clip off the flower stems before they bloom.
So what does angelica look like?
There are a couple of different varieties.


Angelica photo M Cannon

One has yellowish green, feathery leaves that look tropical because of their large size which is about 0.7-1m long, and are divided into 3 leaflets with toothed edges.
This variety of Angelica has greenish white flowers that hang in umbrella like clusters at the ends of the stalks which are 1-1.5m tall, hollow, and stiff, so it's not really a plant for pots.
Another variety has by far the darkest of the Angelica's, with a rosette of near black delicately divided foliage.
During early Summer, dark flower stems carry broad umbels of purple buds, which open to soft pink.
How to grow it-Angelica likes moist, rich soil that is slightly acid, growing best in semi-shade.
Angelica can grow it most of Australia although doesn’t grow that well in hot humid climates.
Find a shady, sheltered spot for growing angelica - it likes moist soil, so keep it well watered - if you have a pond and can provide shelter, then it would do well there because it’s normally found near water in the wild.
Although that’s not really necessary.
Mine grows well on the south side of a garage-but then it spread to a nearby veggie bed, and seems to be OK there too.
Angelica grows easily from seed that is if you’re growing your own or know of someone that has some.
To get the flower seed-it’s just a matter of waiting after the flowers have died.
One seed head has about 100 seeds.
But you need to sow them within a few weeks after ripening or they lose their viability.
TIP: If you leave the seeds to ripen on the stems, will mean they’ll self- sow readily.
Then you can pick out the seedlings when they’re quite small and pass them on to friends.
Angelica is a hardy perennial and you need no more than one plant in a150cmsquare.
Either sow seeds in the late summer and thin to 15cm then in the second year to 60cm then to 150cm or buy plants in autumn or spring and set them a metre apart.


Angelica photo M. Cannon

If they self seed, then keep the strongest as replacement stock.
You also can propagate angelica from root cuttings.
It grows for four to five years as a rule, then it’ll die.
One thing to note, Angelica dies down completely in winter and re-shoots in spring, so remember where you last planted it.

Harvesting Angelica. How Do I Use It?

So now you’re growing Angelica and you’re wondering what do I do with this plant.
Firstly, it’s a reasonably attractive addition to any cottage or perennial garden, because the flowers and leaves are various shades of either green or purpleso they blend well with just about anything.
Depending on which variety you have of course.
But you can use it in the kitchen if you’re prepared to wait a year.
Plus, the candied angelica that you buy is not a patch on the real deal.
In the second year and onwards, you can cut the stalks for candying.
The books say do this in mid to late spring, whilst they are still young and green, but honestly, we’ve had such warm weather, that the Angelica I have in the garden is still green.
If you want to use the roots, then do it when the plant is still young in autumn or early winter or they may get woody
What Do You Do With It?
The roots, leaves, and stalks of angelica have a number of uses.
Young angelica stems can be candied and used to decorate cakes and pastries, and can also be jellied.
The leaves are used in herb pillows - it's said to have a calming effect - and the roots can be cooked with butter.
Chopped leaves may be added to fruit salads, fish dishes and cottage cheese in small amounts.
Add leaves to sour fruit such as rhubarb to neutralize acidity.
Boil the stems with jams to improve the jam’s flavour.
Remove the stems before canning or freezing. Young stems can be used as a substitute for celery.
You can also eat the boiled roots and stems like celery.
Commercially, the seeds and an oil made from the stems and roots are used as a flavouring in many liqueurs such as vermouth, chartreuse, and Benedictine, and the seeds also can be brewed into a tea.
So, all round it's a good value plant and there's a great deal of satisfaction to be had from producing something that most people only buy in shops or see in restaurants - candied angelica.
TIP To keep your Angelica growing in the garden you need to make sure it’s well watered and remove the stems before they flower as the angelica will die after flowering and setting seed.
You can keep one or two going longer to fill in the gap left by waiting for seedlings to mature by not allowing them to flower.
Why is it good for you?
After the bacterial theory was disproven in relation to the bubonic plaque of 1665 it was realized that Angelica had antibacterial properties. 
Some people apparently chew the dried root for its anti-viral properties.
AND THAT WAS YOUR VEGETABLE HERO FOR TODAY?

DESIGN ELEMENTS

Wildlife in Tropical Gardens
Would you think that tropical gardens are any good for wildlife?
Of course! Think Daintree and Kakadu for tropical and rainforest;

Lorikeets in Drunken Parrot tree or Schotia brachypetala  photo M Cannon

Australia has some of the oldest and largest tracts of rainforest in the world, and they are teeming with wildlife.
So how can you get that into your garden?
Let’s find out. I'm talking with Louise McDaid, Garden Designer.

Australia’s rainforests stretch across the country and cover every climatic type.

Daintree rainforest

From Queensland's Daintree Rainforest to Tasmania's cool temperate wilderness and to the Gondwanan rainforest near Byron Bay.
You'll also find dry rainforest pockets in Western Australia's Kimberley region and monsoon rainforest in Kakadu National Park.
Down in Victoria's Otway Ranges, exist lush fern gullies.
This lush landscape is home to species like cassowaries, parrots, pythons, possums, tree kangaroos, and primitive-looking reptiles, many of which live nowhere else in the world.
You may not attract these to your garden but you certainly will attract something from your local area.
So there’s no excuse for not having a tropical rainforest no matter what zone you live in.

If you have any questions about creating tropical gardens drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com

PLANT OF THE WEEK

This next plant is for the lovers of fragrance in the garden.
And if you love fragrance, you’re probably going to buy plants that aren’t supposed to do well in your district.
Plants like Luculia, or Lilac (Syringia vulgaris) which are for cool climates mostly.
There’s another much plant that has a reputation of keeling over without warning, but gardeners still want to grow if because of its high fragrance.
Now, there’s a new variety with flowers double or triple the size of the old species (Daphne odora) and hopefully, a bit more resistant to some of the problems that plagued the predecessor.
So, what so good about it?
Let’s find out. I'm talking with the plant panel :Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

Daphne Perfume Princess

Daphne Perfume Princess is apparently no ordinary Daphne and should be on every plant collector’s list.
Not only are the flowers bigger than the species Daphne, but it flowers longer, can grow anywhere in Australia and it has the strongest fragrance of any Daphne.
A definite must have.

Garden Mums and Red Cheeky Birds

WILDLIFE IN FOCUS

RED WATTLEBIRD
Gardens are a particular favourite of this medium sized nectar feeding wattlebird.


Red wattlebird

One of the second largest, weighing  of it’s type,110grams, these birds make a typical clucking sound not unlike that of chickens and have a yellow underbelly with red cheek patches.
The biggest wattlebird is the yellow wattlebird and only lives in Tasmania. The red wattlebird lives mostly in the southern areas of Australia, but that includes New South Wales except for inland.
You might see one or two around Brisbane as well.
Are they coming to visit your garden or neighbourhood?
Let’s find out ? I'm talking with Dr Holly Parsons Manager of Birds in Backyards.

The red wattlebird is a mottled browny-white with little globs of red called 'wattles' below the cheek.

Red Wattlebird photo Birds in Backyards

Not named after it’s penchant for hanging around Wattle trees, but for the red flap or wattle on each side of its face, a bit like that of chickens and turkeys.
This bird also has a yellow belly and a reddish eye when it's mature.
FACT CHECK: Nectar is a large par of any honeyeaters diet and you might find information on the web that wattlebirds have a brush tipped tongue.
That’s not correct, but is as Holly said, just a fairly long tongue that’s good for slurping up the nectar with the aid of a long curved bill for probing the flowers.
If you have any questions about red wattlebirds or any other birds or have some information to share, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

VEGETABLE HEROES

GARDEN CRESS

You may have eaten garden cress in the past or you may not have even come across it at all.
Garden cress (Lepidium sativum), is a member of the cabbage family. Brassicaceae
Cress is native to the Middle East and interestingly was grown in Persia as early as 400 BC
Did you know that there are several types of cress?
Garden Cress is also called broadleaf cress, has flat, bright green leaves to 10cm long and 5cm inches wide.
Garden cress, a biennial, is also called peppergrass, pepper cress, and mustard cress.
Golden-leafed broadleaf cress is sometimes called Australian cress.

Common Garden Cress

Garden cress is an annual that thrives in damp soil.
 Curly cress (Barbarea vernapraecox), also called, early winter cress, or Upland cress, has finely divided leaves something like parsley or chervil and thin, branching stems.
Curly cress is dark green and  also likes to grow in damp soil.
 Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) is a trailing annual usually grown in water.

Watercress as grown in England

You can grow watercress indoors in pots set in a tray of water or along the side of a stream or watercourse.

Curly Garden Cres

Who has a stream or creek running past their kitchen window?
This is what some English people might do to grow watercress
Watercress is a member of the Nasturtium family.
Today I’m focussing on garden cress.\
How Do You Grow Garden Cress?
Cress is a reseeding annual or biennial, which can be grown in shade or  semi shade.
In grows well in the cooler months.
“If you plant cress during the summer, the plants will shoot up flowers without making enough growth to harvest.”
If grown in dry soil and very hot weather, instead of being refreshing and tasty, it becomes unpleasant and bitter.
Its seeds are light - germinating, in about 2 to 4 days.
Northern Hemisphere information will tell you to sow seed in early spring or late summer through autumn.
Garden Cress seeds can be sown any time of the year, although plants will generally grow best in Autumn, Winter or Spring.
If you live in a warmer part of Australia and want to grow garden cress during the Summer try growing it indoor that way you’ll have cress all year round.

Cress is also suitable as a groundcover, and can also be grown year around or on a windowsill in pots, bowls, boxes, or flat plates where it will often produce a more mild and pleasing flavour
If you want, you could have a continual supply, if you sowed seed every eight days.
It’s a fact that the officers in the 1700’s coming over on the first fleet, grew cress on wet flannel as a source of Vitamin C
Soil is not that important, and sand, coir peat, and compost are all suitable.
Water your cress well; both seeds and plants should be kept moist.
Cress prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8. that’s slightly acid.
How To Sow
Scatter your garden cress seeds straight into the garden bed, raking in to about 3mm deep and firming down the soil lightly prior to watering in to retain moisture.  You can soaking Garden Cress seeds overnight before sowing to increase the number of seedlings you end up with. 
Once the seedlings have a few leaves you can thin them out, leave about 20cm between them to allow room for each plant to grow.
Where to Grow
Garden Cress prefers to grow in a sunny spot or in light shade for part of the day.  For warmer areas, Garden Cress will grow better in partial shade when grown during the hotter months of the year outdoors. 
As far as companion planting goes, “Cress is not suitable for growing among other plants as it contains a tiny amount of mustard oil that’s supposed to interfere with the growth of other plants.” this is called aelopathic, or aelopathy.
Growing without soil
Cress can actually be grown without soil, by using moist paper towels
To do this at home, just layer and wet two paper towels and set them on a plate. Sprinkle the cress seeds on the wet paper towels and place plate in a light window, preferably a north-facing window.

Check daily to make sure the paper towels are kept moist.
In about three days, the plants should be about 1.3cm high.
Continue to keep the paper moist and when they reach 10 -12 cm high″, trim your cress with scissors and enjoy!
If you’re growing cress outside, pick your cress when it’s still young; 10-15cm in height.
When mature, garden cress produces white or light-pink flowers, and small seed pods.
Cress is used raw and in sandwiches and salads with mixed greens. Cress is also good with cottage cheese and with eggs. It can be overpowering to other herbs, so it is generally used alone.
Garden cress is added to soups, sandwiches and salads for its tangy flavor.
Also eaten as sprouts, and the fresh or dried seed pods can be used as a peppery seasoning.
Cress is used raw and in sandwiches and salads with mixed greens. Cress is also good with cottage cheese and with eggs. It can be overpowering to other herbs, so it is generally used alone.
Why Is It Good For You?
Garden cress is an important source of iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamins C, E and A.. The seeds are high in calories and protein, whereas the leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A, C and folate.
Both the leaves and stems of cress can be eaten raw in salads or sandwiches, and are sometimes called cress sprouts. When buying cress, look for firm, evenly coloured, rich green leaves. Avoid cress with any signs of slime, wilting, or discoloration. If stored in plastic, it can last up to five days in the fridge. Another way to store cress is by putting the stems in a glass container with water and covering them, then put in the fridge until you need them.
AND THAT WAS YOUR VEGETABLE HERO FOR TODAY?

DESIGN ELEMENTS

TROPICAL GARDENS FOR A COOL CLIMATE
Temperate regions like Tasmania and mountainous regions in Victoria and New South Wales.

Tropical-look cool climate rainforest.

 Montane rainforests are like tropical gardens in cool temperate areas, so it’s not such a stretch to consider planting or designing with the tropical look.
Let’s find out about tropical gardens for cool climates. I'm talking with Garden Designer Louise McDaid.

Montane rainforests have quite a lot of year-round rainfall, are mostly above 3,300 feet, or 1,000 metres but with a good amount of rainfall and mostly have a canopy layer but don’t have the year-round warmth and sunlight associated with tropical rainforests
It’s important to remember that windbreaks and creating microclimates will help establish large leaved plants that might not thrive or do that well to start off with. But with a bit of planning, I’m sure you can get that tropical look for your mountain garden. Close planting is the key, and layering.

If you have any questions about creating tropical gardens drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com
All information will be posted on the website atwww.realworldgardener.com

 

PLANT OF THE WEEK

CHRYSTANTHEMUM MULTIFLORA
Looking fantastic right now with their explosion of flowers that are so many, you can’t see the foliage.
This time the breeders haven’t held back with some of the variety names which include, Boulevard, Popcorn, Mars, Moulin Rouge and Clown.

Chrysanthemum multiflora

So, what about growing your own?
Let’s find out which ones are so good. I'm talking with  the plant panel were Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

Chrysanthemum multiflora grows dense and can reach an average height of 40 - 80 cm and a spread of 40 - 80 cm.
The flowers  of Chrysanthemum multiflora are about half the size of regular or more commonly grown garden 'mums' but the number so many, that it makes for a dazzling display.
Chrysanthemum multiflora or Garden Mums are prolific bloomers and are easy to grow, hardy, and available in a huge range of colours. They have different type of flower and bloom season to fit every landscape need.
•Anemone: 1 or more rows of petals with a cushion-like centre.
•Pompom: Familiar globular shape
•Regular Incurve: Petals curve up and in, forming a sphere
•Single or daisy: Looks like its cousin, the daisy
•Spider: Long, curled petals droop down and give a spider-like look

Chrysanthemum multiflora

These are among the shorter, mounding varieties of mums generally grouped as ‘cushion’ mums.