Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

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Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow episodes

  • Real World Gardener Winter Roses in Talking Flowers
    TALKING FLOWERS
    Winter Roses: Helleborus orientalis, Helleborus niger, Helleborus x hybridus
    Family: Ranunculaceae along with buttercups and ranunculus.
    The common name is winter rose or Lenten rose because if flowers in winter. Looks rose-like don't you think?
    Floral meaning: Floral Meaning: said to provide protection and a vase of hellebore, brought into 
    a room will drive away an unpleasant atmosphere and replace it with tranquility.
    ·         Hellebores grow best in part shade, with moist but well-drained soils. They will, however, tolerate most soils as long as not waterlogged.
    ·         Slow to get established, and can be left alone for years.
    ·         Don’t like being disturbed as this sets them back.
    ·         If you do want to divide, or need to transplant, autumn is best. 
    ·         Dig the whole plant, wash off soil, then divide with a sharp knife between growth buds.  Leave at least 3 buds on each division.  
    Mercedes' Tip: · Make excellent cut flowers, that last up to 5 days. To extend their shelf life, plunging the stems, up to their necks in boiling water, before placing them in a vase.
    I'm speaking with Mercedes Sarmini, floral therapist of www.floralgossip.com.au
    10 min
  • Real World Gardener Winter Roses in Talking Flowers
    TALKING FLOWERS

    Winter Roses: Helleborus orientalis, Helleborus niger, Helleborus x hybridus

    Family: Ranunculaceae along with buttercups and ranunculus.

    The common name is winter rose or Lenten rose because if flowers in winter. Looks rose-like don't you think?

    Floral meaning: Floral Meaning: said to provide protection and a vase of hellebore, brought into 

    a room will drive away an unpleasant atmosphere and replace it with tranquility.

    • ·         Hellebores grow best in part shade, with moist but well-drained soils. They will, however, tolerate most soils as long as not waterlogged.
  • ·         Slow to get established, and can be left alone for years.
  • ·         Don’t like being disturbed as this sets them back.
  • ·         If you do want to divide, or need to transplant, autumn is best. 
  • ·         Dig the whole plant, wash off soil, then divide with a sharp knife between growth buds.  Leave at least 3 buds on each division.  
    • Mercedes' Tip: · Make excellent cut flowers, that last up to 5 days. To extend their shelf life, plunging the stems, up to their necks in boiling water, before placing them in a vase.

    I'm speaking with Mercedes Sarmini, floral therapist of www.floralgossip.com.au

    10 min
  • Real World Gardener Harvesting Root Perennials in The Good Earth
    THE GOOD EARTH
    Harvesting Root Crops
    There are plenty of shall we say, perennial root crops that go dormant in winter in temperate and cool climates, but need to be in a spot where they remain for several years.
    These plants are economical to grow because they’re pretty easy and give you a bumper crop from just one plant.
     Although these vegetables hail from tropical countries, because they die down in winter, you can grow them anywhere.
    Pictured is an easy to grow tumeric plant, tumeric tubers and the cut tubers before drying
     
    I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska of www.mosshouse.com.au
    Turmeric tubers photo Margaret Mossakowska
    Margaret suggested, turmeric, ginger, yacon, sweet potato, horseradish and comfrey as some of her best root crops.
    These can be grown in the coolest parts of Australia because they become dormant during the winter months.
    The general rule of thumb is to harvest them when the leaves turn yellow.
    If you have any questions for Margaret or for me, you know what to do.
    11 min
  • Real World Gardener Harvesting Root Perennials in The Good Earth
    THE GOOD EARTH

    Harvesting Root Crops

    There are plenty of shall we say, perennial root crops that go dormant in winter in temperate and cool climates, but need to be in a spot where they remain for several years.

    These plants are economical to grow because they’re pretty easy and give you a bumper crop from just one plant.

     Although these vegetables hail from tropical countries, because they die down in winter, you can grow them anywhere.

    Pictured is an easy to grow tumeric plant, tumeric tubers and the cut tubers before drying

     

    I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska of www.mosshouse.com.au

    Turmeric tubers photo Margaret Mossakowska

    Margaret suggested, turmeric, ginger, yacon, sweet potato, horseradish and comfrey as some of her best root crops.

    These can be grown in the coolest parts of Australia because they become dormant during the winter months.

    The general rule of thumb is to harvest them when the leaves turn yellow.

    If you have any questions for Margaret or for me, you know what to do.

    11 min
  • Real World Gardener How To Create Segmented Stone Paths in Design Elements
    DESIGN ELEMENTS
    Segmented Stone Paths: Garden Paths part 3
    It would seem that our garden path is taking forever to finish, or maybe that it’s just so long we’re still walking on it.
    So far, this series has covered gravel and paths made out of local stone, but this week it’s just a bit different.
     
    What is segmented stone? Is that paving? 
    I'm talking with Landscape Designer, and, Director of Urban Meadows Jason Cornish.
     
    Segmented paving is pavers laid in a pattern. Councils use them in footpaths because if they need digging up to get to various services, they're easier to dig up than concrete footpaths.
    If you’re thinking about doing it yourself, Jason’s tip is keeping the pavers level is the way to get a professional finish. 
    Plus, it’s reasonably hard to do all the work yourself, the excavation, laying the sand bed, compacting the sand, then connecting all the pavers. 
    For do it yourselfers:
    First you need to excavate to the depth of the paver, plus sand and road base, say 100-120mm.
    Second, use a compactor on the sand to level it off and make it a hard base.
    For the cheats way of no cutting, choose pavers that fit the width of the path exactly. Otherwise you'll need to cut the pavers.
    Fill in the joints with either sand or sand and mortar together.
    The latter stops the weeds making for a happy gardener.
    If you have any questions either for me or for Jason, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in
    8 min
  • Real World Gardener How To Create Segmented Stone Paths in Design Elements
    DESIGN ELEMENTS

    Segmented Stone Paths: Garden Paths part 3

    It would seem that our garden path is taking forever to finish, or maybe that it’s just so long we’re still walking on it.

    So far, this series has covered gravel and paths made out of local stone, but this week it’s just a bit different.

     

    What is segmented stone? Is that paving? 

    I'm talking with Landscape Designer, and, Director of Urban Meadows Jason Cornish.

     

    Segmented paving is pavers laid in a pattern. Councils use them in footpaths because if they need digging up to get to various services, they're easier to dig up than concrete footpaths.

    If you’re thinking about doing it yourself, Jason’s tip is keeping the pavers level is the way to get a professional finish. 

    Plus, it’s reasonably hard to do all the work yourself, the excavation, laying the sand bed, compacting the sand, then connecting all the pavers. 

    For do it yourselfers:

    • First you need to excavate to the depth of the paver, plus sand and road base, say 100-120mm.
  • Second, use a compactor on the sand to level it off and make it a hard base.
  • For the cheats way of no cutting, choose pavers that fit the width of the path exactly. Otherwise you'll need to cut the pavers.
  • Fill in the joints with either sand or sand and mortar together.
  • The latter stops the weeds making for a happy gardener.

    • If you have any questions either for me or for Jason, drop us a line to [email protected] or write in 

    8 min
  • Real World Gardener Where Do Insects Go Over Winter?
    PLANT DOCTOR
    Where Do Insects Go Over Winter?
     
    Have you ever thought what happens to insects in winter?
    In particular insect pests, we don’t see as many pests but come Spring, they seem to emerge in their hundreds from somewhere.
    How are they managing to hang on, especially in those districts where temperatures fall below zero.
    You’ll be surprised to find out the methods that insects use .
    So let’s find out.
    I'm talking with Steve Falcioni from www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au
     
    Insects seem to manage to hang on in one form or and how they do this seems to vary quite a bit because they’re so adaptive.
    Is it really winter? Monarch Butterfly
    Did you know that the shorted daylight lengths of Autumn trigger insects to enter something called diapause.
    What’s that? 
    Well, diapause (and also the definition of an evening spent watching TV) is "an inactive state of arrested development."
    Diapause insects sees their metabolic rate drop to one tenth of what it is normally so it can use stored body fat to survive winter.
    If you have any questions about insects, why not email us [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    12 min
  • Real World Gardener Where Do Insects Go Over Winter?
    PLANT DOCTOR

    Where Do Insects Go Over Winter?

     

    Have you ever thought what happens to insects in winter?

    In particular insect pests, we don’t see as many pests but come Spring, they seem to emerge in their hundreds from somewhere.

    How are they managing to hang on, especially in those districts where temperatures fall below zero.

    You’ll be surprised to find out the methods that insects use .

    So let’s find out.

    I'm talking with Steve Falcioni from www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au

     

    Insects seem to manage to hang on in one form or and how they do this seems to vary quite a bit because they’re so adaptive.

    Is it really winter? Monarch Butterfly

    Did you know that the shorted daylight lengths of Autumn trigger insects to enter something called diapause.

    What’s that? 

    Well, diapause (and also the definition of an evening spent watching TV) is "an inactive state of arrested development."

    Diapause insects sees their metabolic rate drop to one tenth of what it is normally so it can use stored body fat to survive winter.

    If you have any questions about insects, why not email us [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

    12 min
  • Real World Gardener Cool Pilea pep is Plant of the Week
    PLANT OF THE WEEK
    Pilea peperomioides: Pilea pep
    This plant has a really interesting backstory.
    It’s common name is Chinese Money plant or Friendship plant, but I think there’s a few plants around with those same common names.
    So as I always say, you need to know the scientific name to avoid confusion if that’s the case.
    Let’s find out.
    I'm talking with Jeremy Critchley, www.thegreengallery.com.au
    Pilea peperomioides or Pilea pip,as it’s called in Jeremy’s nursery, was discovered and grown years before scientists ever got a hold of it.
    It never occurred to anyone, that it was a new species until a member of the public want to know it’s real name.
    How good is that?
    Easily grown indoors or on a warm verandah because it doesn’t like to be below 15 degrees C much
    Hot Tip: healthy Pilea peperomioides plants produce baby plants both from their roots and their stems.
    Keep it away from direct sunlight. 
    Likes to be kept moist but not overly wet.
    Although it can be kept outside in warmer regions, Pilea peperomioides is only suitable as a houseplant in most locations. It doesn’t appreciate temperatures below 10 °C and should be protected from sudden temperature swings.
    Pilea peperomioides will produce little plantlets growing in the soil next to the mother plant a. Once these have grown to a size of around 5-7 cm they are large enough to separate.
    Cut away the plantlet with a sharp, clean knife. They should already have their own root system and can simply be potted up.
    8 min
  • Real World Gardener Cool Pilea pep is Plant of the Week
    PLANT OF THE WEEK

    Pilea peperomioides: Pilea pep

    This plant has a really interesting backstory.

    • It’s common name is Chinese Money plant or Friendship plant, but I think there’s a few plants around with those same common names.

    So as I always say, you need to know the scientific name to avoid confusion if that’s the case.

    Let’s find out.

    I'm talking with Jeremy Critchley, www.thegreengallery.com.au

    Pilea peperomioides or Pilea pip,as it’s called in Jeremy’s nursery, was discovered and grown years before scientists ever got a hold of it.

    It never occurred to anyone, that it was a new species until a member of the public want to know it’s real name.

    How good is that?

    Easily grown indoors or on a warm verandah because it doesn’t like to be below 15 degrees C much

    • Hot Tip: healthy Pilea peperomioides plants produce baby plants both from their roots and their stems.
  • Keep it away from direct sunlight. 
  • Likes to be kept moist but not overly wet.
  • Although it can be kept outside in warmer regions, Pilea peperomioides is only suitable as a houseplant in most locations. It doesn’t appreciate temperatures below 10 °C and should be protected from sudden temperature swings.
  • Pilea peperomioides will produce little plantlets growing in the soil next to the mother plant a. Once these have grown to a size of around 5-7 cm they are large enough to separate.
  • Cut away the plantlet with a sharp, clean knife. They should already have their own root system and can simply be potted up.
    • 8 min

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Radio program Sydney, Australia. Garden Design, Growing Vegetables Trees and Flowers, Garden Tools, Plant Care and Plant Health, Attracting Wildlife to your Garden.