|
Sow Sunflowers from seed now, for a summer and
autumn display. You will find that to get a staged effected you will need more than one
variety since they all grow to different heights. You
can plant seedlings of Marigolds, Petunias, Dahlias, Verbena, Lobelia and Zinnia now with
confidence for flowers and in the vegetable patch Capsicum, Tomatoes (again), Cucumbers,
Salad Onions, Garlic Chives and Chillies.
Although the Roses are having a season second to none in
recent years, so are the Aphids. By the time you pick your Roses you may have controlled
the Aphids, but the stripes on your blooms are the result of their early activity. Perfect
Roses blooms, demand Aphids be controlled.
Don't forget that when any plant is flowering actively, it
is using up lots of nutrient. If that is not supplied at a trickle, you start running on
empty, so if using organic fertilisers, you need to start feeding well before a plant
flowers, because of the long lead time to nutrient release.
Conversely water soluble fertilisers give rapid results,
but be cautious of excessive use of the cheaper types, since they are cheap because of the
chemicals they use, many of which leave salt residues in your clay soil. The most
expensive brand(s) use chemicals that leave very small traces of residues. I can't say
that any other way without being sued, I'm afraid.
This week seems all about feeding or killing, but such is
the chaos in our gardens we seek to control. A productive garden is no accident. |
