Add colour to the ornamental garden with seedlings of marigold, lobelia, viola, aster, snap dragon, mimulus, penstemon, campanula, pansy, nemesia, cornflower, schizanthus, dianthus, cerastium, sweet William, salvia, petunia, celosia, chrysanthemum and portulaca.

Tulip bulbs are in nurseries now with a great selection to choose from.

Place tulip bulbs in the crisper of the refrigerator for about six weeks prior to planting as they need this cold period to initiate the new season's growth.

Watch out for insect pests as late summer is their ideal breeding time with warm weather and an abundance of plant growth.

Quick action is the key to keeping pests under control.

Coprosmas are small shrubs grown for their very decorative foliage that gives year-round interest.

These low-maintenance plants that can tolerate winds and salt spray are perfect for edging, low hedging, mass planting or in containers where they can be clipped into interesting shapes.

With variety names that include 'Perfect Sunrise', 'Pacific Sunset', 'Sahara Ruby', 'Tequila Sunrise', 'Golden Star', 'Karo Red' and 'Lemon and Lime' their description is self-explanatory.

Hebe 'Surf Break' is another colourful foliage plant growing about 50cms high with variegated yellow and green foliage with purple/pink new growth as is Hebe 'Surf Swell' with silver/grey foliage and purple/pink new growth.

When camellia buds turn brown and ball up it is usually caused by dampness either by rain, dewy nights or frosts.

This dampness causes the buds to tarnish which explains why, except under ideal conditions, it's difficult to get clean, white camellia flowers.

Carnations whose flower buds split down one side are known as busters, the cause being that they are so full of petals that the calyx tube cannot take the expansion of the opening buds.

Some gardeners are puzzled when their potato plants produce green tomatoes.

These berries or fruits contain seeds that would produce potato plants if sown, but because of the uncertainly of the crop and the time needed to grow potatoes from seed, the planting of tubers of known varieties is preferred.

Potatoes are closely related to tomatoes hence the similarity in fruit.

Tomatoes can be grafted onto potatoes as a fun exercise but it has little practical use.