august 2017
Greenstone garden guide | 15
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august 2017
Greenstone garden guide | 15
This month in the garden
HWith spring around the corner , it ’ s time to prepare your garden .
ere are a few chores to give you a head start :
• Early spring clean the garden shed . Sharpen tools and sand off any rust on spades etc ,. I rub a light coat of oil on to preserve mine .
• Turn your compost heap – use ready compost in bed preparation and make space for post winter pruning . • Prepare your planting beds : Turn in compost , bone meal and kraal
manure . A handful of agricultural lime per metre does wonders for cabbages , broccoli and cauliflower .
• For a jump start sow your vegetable seeds now but keep them in a warm , sunny place .
• Don ’ t remove frost guard yet , we will still get a few frosty mornings .
• The day time temperature is going up and it is still very dry , check plants for wilting . You may have to increase your watering .
Perennial profusion
Plant these indigenous plants now and get the most out of their spectacular spring show . Best of all these plants are water wise , take light frost and will give you a few years of colour .
Felicia amelloides : Full sun
Clivia miniata : Shade / semi shade
Lampranthus species : Full sun
Osteospermum species : Full sun gardening Q & a Q : I would like to grow my own granadillas but I don ’ t know anything about it . Can they be grown in Joburg ?
A : Purple granadilla also known as Passion fruit ( Passiflora edulis ) does well in Johannesburg . It is however , a tropical plant and needs protection from frost especially when young . You can plant your own from seed or buy one from a nursery . If planting from seed make sure the fruit is ripe , then wash off all the pulp . Plant the seeds in a fine composted soil and cover lightly with soil . Keep it moist in a warm sunny spot . August and September is a good time to plant .
The main things to consider when planting your granadillas out into the garden are :
• Granadilla vines get big and heavy . They need a large space to grow and a strong trellis , frame or wall to grow on .
• The soil should be deeply prepared with bone meal , compost and kraal manure to encourage deep , strong roots .
• Water and feed well during growth periods and keep the root area mulched with compost .
• Granadilla plants bear fruit on the current season ’ s growth , so pruning is necessary in winter to get a good crop . Remove dead or diseased wood and branches that are overcrowded .
• You should get fruit after six months . It is definitely worth the effort to plant your own . Enjoy !
about wendy wright
As a horticulturalist , Wendy is qualified to offer garden consultations , regarding the health and wellbeing of your garden . She also designs gardens ( domestic and industrial ) and offers garden reconstruction , trading as Green Scene Landscaping . For more information , call 076-826-7288 or email greenscene @ vodamail . co . za
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