Autumn has descended on us once again with its shorter days and longer nights. It is an ideal time to garden with its moderately warm and mild days.
The recent good rains we have had has softened the soil providing perfect conditions for planting seedlings or bedding plants. Most of your seedlings enjoy well drained soils to flourish.
It is best to start digging the beds over thoroughly and mixing in some compost to enrich the soil before planting. There is also a large selection of seedlings to choose from.
The most popular varieties are petunias, pansies, violas, alyssum, snap dragons, lobelia and primulas. We use the above seedlings to plant up our entrance window boxes, pots and hanging baskets to provide vibrant bursts of colour in the nursery.
If you were one of the numerous people enquiring about Jade Vines “Strongylodon Macrobotrys” they are now available. This vine which is native to the tropical forest of the Philippines is rated to be one of the world’s most spectacular climbers.
The turquoise flowers hanging on racemes up to 1m long are quite incredible. To see these climbers at their best they should be grown over a large pergola so the chains of flowers can hang freely.
Propagation is done from cuttings but is extremely difficult. When you plant your Jade Vine be extra careful not to disturb the roots. They like full sun to semi shade.
The strelitzia reginae “Bird of Paradise” are all bearing their striking orange and purple bird like flowers.
This striking shrub is the floral emblem of KZN and strangely enough is also the emblem for the city of Los Angeles in the U.S.A. We are spoilt for choice here on the North Coast. This is the time to do some planting.
Happy Gardening
Bruce
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