octoBER 2017 Greenstone garden guide | 9 This month in the garden
octoBER 2017 Greenstone garden guide | 9 This month in the garden
There is a fast developing trend to grow your own fruit , vegetables and herbs . This is because there is nothing like stepping into your own back yard or patio to snip a few herbs or throw together a salad . Quick , fresh and delicious … grown by you !
What to do : gardening Q & a
• Plan your garden space . In a big garden you can choose a sunny spot for vegetables and let fruit trees
Q : I have an indoor plant in my house which had lovely grow to their natural size , even using them as shade white spade-shaped flowers when I bought it . The flowers trees in the garden . In a small garden , you can espalier fruit trees along a wall , integrate some vegetables the leaves still look okay . What can I do to make it flower ?
lasted for several months but now it never flowers , although into the flower beds and plant into pots . Even on a balcony you can maximise space by growing your
A : I am guessing that your plant is a Spathiphyllum . There are veggies in pots or invest in a system that enables two reasons why it may not be flowering . The first one is sunlight . Spathiphyllum can grow in low light but will only flower you to grow plants up the wall .
• Herbs – Rosemary , thyme , sage and the onion family need a lot of sun and well drained soil . They are if it gets more light . This means moving it into a spot that has very bright light near a window or gets an hour or two of direct best planted right outside the kitchen door for convenience . Origanum grows well in small spaces and sunlight . Be careful to not put it in too much direct sun as this could also burn it . The second reason is nutrition . If your plant can be in a very small pot . Mint likes moisture and has been in the same soil for a long time the nutrients may be depleted . I would recommend first re-potting it into fresh potting soil . Remember to add bonemeal and fertilizer . You can use a pelleted organic fertilizer that does not smell . Thereafter use pot plant food ( fertilizer ) diluted in the water every two weeks . Make sure it contains ‘ K ’ Potassium to help with flowering . about wendy wright
GROW YOUR OWN
Green Scene is now selling vegetable and flower seedlings and beautiful colourperennials . Find us at the Fresh2U Farmers Market in Modderfontein on the first and last Saturday of each month from 8am-1pm .
Come to our demonstration on growing veggies in containers at 10am on October 7 .
will cope in the shade and is best grown in pots .
• Fruit – Apples , pears , nectarines , peaches , plums and apricots can grow very large but can also be trained along a wall and controlled . Citrus trees are ornamental and are good in containers or in a garden bed . Grapes and granadillas look good and provide shade if grown over a pergola , arch or even over the garden wall .
• Vegetables – Some vegetables will be in the ground a long time and need a semi permanent position . Artichoke , peppers , chilies and spinach can be around for a couple of years if they are well nourished and survive the cold of winter . Other veggies take about three months to harvest , such as cabbage , cauliflower , broccoli , mealies and tomatoes , so if you are not happy with their position , the next batch can be planted elsewhere .
• Soils – Constantly work on your soil nutrition . Add compost , manure and bonemeal each time you plant . After planting keep the soil mulched . If you are experiencing yellow , blotchy or pale leaves , there may be a deficiency . You can rectify this by applying trace elements ( there is a product called Trelmix on the market ).
• Healthy soils will not only produce the best , most delicious vegetables , but will nourish your body too .
• Vegetables need good watering to grow well . Consider putting a rain harvesting tank nearby .
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