Plant seedlings of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, broccolette, winter lettuce, chives, kale, leek, onions, silverbeet, spinach, swede, parsley, rocket and coriander. Strawberry plants, rhubarb and asparagus crowns can be planted into a sunny, well-prepared bed.
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Cabbages and cauliflowers that are beginning to head will benefit from applications of a liquid fertiliser.
In the ornamental garden plant seedlings of dianthus, alyssum, wallflower, gerbera, carnation, pansies, viola, lobelia, linaria, sweet william, salvia, sweet peas, aquilegia, foxglove, cinerarias, larkspur, lupin, poppy, primrose, primulas and stock.
Plant new deciduous trees including fruit trees now as there is still warmth in the soil to induce new root growth, helping the plants become established, so come spring, they’ll have an early start.
If garden space is limited mini, dwarf, multi-grafted and upright varieties are available.
After ornamental deciduous plants have dropped their leaves give them an all over clean up with white oil. This helps to get rid of any scale insects that are hiding in cracks on the bark.
Water babies
If you have a low area where water lays during wet weather, especially in winter, there are some lovely shrubs that will tolerate such conditions.
One is Amelanchiers with pretty spring blossom and beautiful autumn foliage that provides several months of pleasure and colourful purple berries that are feasted upon by birds. Another is Viburnum opulus, the snowball tree, with stunning white flowers in late spring and red autumn berries.
Plant new deciduous trees including fruit trees now as there is still warmth in the soil ...
Making the cut
Cuttings are the most common propagating method used by gardeners. Roots are initiated at the base of the cutting by plant growth regulators known as auxins that are produced by the plant.
Some plants will produce roots quite readily from cuttings while other produce low levels of auxins so we need to dip the base of these cuttings into a root-stimulating compound available at nurseries.
The process of cutting off a piece of stem often causes the production of auxins which move to the site of the injury.
This happens whether we are cutting a piece of stem into pieces to use as cuttings or intentionally creating a wound on the stem when propagating by layering or aerial-layering.
At these points the increased concentration of auxins will then stimulate root production.