The unusual round zucchini “Globe” has proven popular once again this season with good reports on growth etc coming in. If everyone that has purchased these plants is successful we may have to start a “How Big is Your Globe?” competition next season. For more info see Jon’s Column Nov 21 2010.
The latest release from the Seasol company “Powerfeed for Vegies” is delivering good results, based on the feedback from customers. I still have a few samples left, so if you are purchasing some vegie seedlings, just ask us for a sample sachet.
For those of you who are growing the edible fig varieties be aware that at this time of the growing season your fig may be attacked by clustering sawfly larvae. These pests can do some serious damage to the leaves and it doesn’t take them long to completely skeletonise a leaf. For control I would suggest spraying with pyrethrum or spinosad. Avoid using carbaryl as this is now not recommended for edible plants.
If you are in a zone that will grow Poinciana, then you may also grow the “Yellow Flame Tree” Peltophorum pterocarpum, a native of south-eastern Asia and northern Australasia. Growth habit is similar to the Poinciana Delonix regia and is often referred to as the “Yellow Poinciana”. General flowering is in summer then followed by reddish/brown seed pods. It is regarded as drought resistant once established however this could take a few years. So if you have an area that can accommodate a large spreading shade tree, it’s well worth considering the “Yellow Flame”.
For those of you who have been asking me about the “Cape Gooseberry” I now have a supply available. What I would like in return is a jam recipe for this interesting, hardy old berry, that I will post on our website. www.beaudeserthardware.com.au
Photo Courtesy Forest & Kim Starr
Plantman