Help kids discover the magic of seeds! - Oct 09, 2015
Dear Gardening Friends,
It was so hot this week pig was nearly Roast of the day". Have you noticed on those really hot days how much cooler it is under the shade of a tree. It just makes sense that if you have trees around your house the air will be cooler. If you need more trees around your house come and see us for advice.
Last week we struggled to give away free Strawberry plants for kids. Kids are the gardeners of tomorrow so if we can't get them to plant strawberries what hope have we got to get them to plant trees?
Seeds are amazing things. My son Dan has planted Watermelon, Rock Melon and Pumpkin seeds in a garden that we have made especially for him. He was up early this morning watering his seedlings with the watering can. Every time the seeds pop up he gets me to come and share the excitement. I had forgotten how kids love the magic of seeds. Spring is the best time to plant seeds because they just grow so quickly.
We are going to plant corn this weekend from seed. I remember growing corn when I was a child and it was the sweetest corn I have ever eaten. I want my children to experience the excitement of planting seeds, watch them grow then pick and eat the produce. Gardening requires commitment so this is a great lesson for kids to learn.
Of course you need to help them have success by choosing a sunny position and by providing planting compost and snail bait.
Make it their job to plant the seeds and keep them watered. As you know I get very frustrated with the chain stores who are happy to sell potting mixes that will never allow children or adults have success.
Arthur came into the nursery yesterday to get his photo taken for next weeks edition of The Macarthur Chronicle. The first thing he did was put his arm through mine so our relationship has never been stronger!
Arthur managed to sell 6 of his famous Big Greek Tomatoes while we were waiting for the photographer to turn up. "The fruit are as big as soccer balls" he was telling anyone who would listen. We had Greek gardeners come from all over Sydney to buy Arthur's famous tomato after it appeared in the paper last year so don't delay your purchase or you will miss out.
I had a customer complain about a Convovulus sabatius being pot bound.
Some plants you buy in a nursery will nearly always be pot bound. Bottle brush, Lavenders and Convovulus are top of the list. These plants have vigorous root systems so dunk them in a bucket of water prior to planting and water daily until they establish.
Convovulus sabatius is a ground covering plant that can be used as a lawn replacement. It has grey green foliage and these amazing blue flowers during the warmer months. It will even grow in horrible clay soils. I spotted this one growing on a bank this morning on the way to work.
It can become a weed so just be careful where you plant it.
Aphids have appeared on the flower buds on roses so you will need to spray them with Pestoil or Eco-oil or the flowers will come out all twisted and distorted. These non poisonous sprays dehydrate the insects.
Spray your Citrus trees with the same products to control Aphids and Citrus Leaf Miner now too.
New Guinea Impatiens have arrived this week. These large flowering colourful plants will flower non stop for the next 9 months. They grow best in morning sun positions in pots or gardens. They love water so keep them moist and they will reward you.
New varieties keep getting released that are suppose to grow in full sun but we always find they do best in morning sun only.
They make inexpensive flowering gifts too!
Yvonne has been kindly supplying the staff with home grown Passionfruit every week. She planted a seedling Passionfruit vine this time last year and it has produced hundreds of fruit in the first year. Passionfruit usually fruit over summer but hers has fruited during late winter and spring. Come and see us if you need a Passionfruit vine.
Pig has jumped on the Cowboys bandwagon this week after falling in love with Johnathan Thurston. It's a pig crush.
Happy Gardening
Tim