In addition to producing a nutritious crop, nut trees are attractive, hardy, very productive and easy care. They range in size from the small hazelnut to spreading giants such as the black walnut. In Tasmania, almond, walnut, hazel, macadamia, pecan and chestnut do well.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nut trees make great ornamentals but have extensive root systems so don’t plant them close together. Black walnuts should not be near the vegetable garden as their roots contain substances harmful to tomatoes and other crops.
Beware of self-sown seedlings which might or might not produce nuts. Almonds, macadamias and hazelnuts are the most suitable for small areas.
Get Busy
Fuchsias should be cut well back now. This will encourage bushy new growth and masses of flowers. Some gardeners cut them down nearly to ground level.
Bulb of lilies and nerines and corms of gladioli can be planted now.
Sweet peas can be sown. Those that were planted last March will be strong big plants now and will give you the first welcome blooms.
Geraniums, which should have been cut back, will appreciate a watering with liquid fertiliser.
Fertiliser can be spread around under rose bushes and watered in, and roses should be pruned if you haven’t already done so.
Broad beans can be sown, so can carrots.
Parsnip seeds are best sown in winter as they like to germinate in the cold.
Seeds of silver beet, potatoes, peas and radishes can go in and you can plant out seedlings of lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower and parsley.
Plant only a few of each. Don’t rush in and fill up all your vegetable beds. It’s far too early.
Wait until mid-October to put in your tomatoes when all danger of frost should have passed.
Prostanthera
If you want pleasant perfumes in your garden, the prostanthera family is a great start.
There are more than 60 varieties and they are Australian natives, related to many of the scented herbs, including mints, lavender and rosemary. Commonly called mint bushes, leaves have a delightful, mint-like scent.
Their flowers, which appear in spring and summer, are bell-shaped, sometimes tubular, in white, pink, mauve, red, green, yellow or cream.
Many prostantheras are found growing wild in damp, semi-shaded places, others grow well in full sun. They are ideal for filling colourless corners or where sun-loving plants will not grow well.
They range from ground-hugging varieties to shrubs and trees growing from one to more than 10 metres high.
Fast growing, they will have a mass of flowers even in their first year. They must have excellent drainage.
Their roots are shallow and heavy rain can cause a big bush in flower to fall over under the weight of water. Remedy this by placing a few rocks around the plant to anchor it.
Prostantheras will release their fragrance when brushed against.
Superior Soil
Spring is approaching and one can almost feel the soil warming up – getting ready for all that spring planting.
Under the surface the soil is bustling with activity as countless millions of bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, fungi and algae, not to mention earthworms, insects and other creatures perform their magic of breaking down wastes to form humus, nitrogen and other elements.
That is what is happening to green manure crops that have been dug in. It’s not too late to do this, especially where you are going to grow tomatoes, sweetcorn, runner beans or pumpkins, which won’t planted until late October or early November.
Green grass clippings and weeds that haven’t gone to seed can be dug in as green manure.