Episodes
Monday Jun 20, 2022
How to Get Longer Lasting Flowers on Real World Gardener
Monday Jun 20, 2022
Monday Jun 20, 2022
TALKING FLOWERS
Tips For Longer Lasting Flowers in the Vase
Flowers are so uplifting and whilst they’re lovely in the garden, in the home, you’ve got them to enjoy for longer.
After all, you’re not watching your flowers that are in the garden for very long.
- There are plenty of 'old wives tales', and just plain outright myths about what to do to your flowers to make them last past 3 days in the vase.
- Ever heard of putting a copper penny in the vase water? Well it's sounds like it could work but in reality, it doesn't do anything for the flowers.
- What about dissolving an aspirin in the water? That's sheer nonsense.
- So how can you make the most of your cut flowers?
- Some of those tips you may have heard before on my Real World Gardener program and one of them is that flowers are ethylene sensitive.
- That means flower sellers on the roadside are not just selling your flowers, but a whole bunch of ethylene laden flowers that have been covered by exhaust fumes.
- That also means that your fruit bowl of bananas, apples and pears are also emitting ethylene which hasten the demise of your precious flowers if they're nearby.
- The best place to buy your flowers is from the grower or from a florist.
- The next best tip is clean fresh water every couple of days is the next best thing for your flowers.
- If you recut the stems on an angle as you do that, then you're increasing the vase life of your flowers. Doing this under water prevents air bubbles from blocking any uptake or food or water too.
- Filtered water isn't totally necessary.
- Coming second those first tips is a spoonful of vodka!!
Is scalding the stems a myth or fact?
Perhaps you thought that was a bit of fuss over nothing?
The truth is this works for woody stems such as hydrangeas and roses, plus a few others like lavender and poppies. Not all flowers though.
Using boiling water or scalding, expels air bubbles or trapped air from the stems, which as before, blocks uptake of water and nutrients.
For more tips listen to the podcast and watch the tutorial that Nadine has generously provided on 'Care and Condition for your flowers.
//vimeo.com/485281174/2ac20b9565
So let’s listen to the podcast.
Sunday May 22, 2022
Climber Shrubs Explained on Real World Gardener
Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
Climber Shrubs
This design series that covers everything from mixed shrub borders, sub-shrubs, climbers, hero trees to best garden bromeliads but use plants that are non-general lines.
I have to say, Peter Nixon, RWG’s contributor for this series, focuses largely on what he calls cool sub-tropical garden or ‘cool sub-trops’ which he refers to often.
Don’t be put off if you live in a different climate because often plants adapt to a variety of climatic conditions and are worth a try.
Hibiscus geranioides |
Climber shrubs-what are they and how could I use them as 'garden fixes’ in my cool subtrops garden ?
In fact if you were search for the term climber-shrub, you would be hard pressed to find it on the internet.
Seems like a contradiction because climbers need support to climb whilst shrubs are free standing. But what about those plants that climb over themselves to form a sort of mounding shrub?
Some of these types of shrubs are self-striking which might be called suckering.
Insta examples from Peter Nixon
Juanaloa aurantiaca - or commonly called Golden Fingers because the flowers look like a little bunch of lady finger bananas. Minimum winter overnight 6-7 degrees C
Gmelina philipensis - 'Parrot Beak'. A deciduous shrub with unusual yellow flowers that resemble a parrot beak.
Hibiscus geranoides-native to Australia. Loves a 'La Nina' type of weather. Interesting foliage texture
Bauhinia tomentosa-sulphur flowering semi-deciduous shrub to 3m with a cascading habit.
Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast. Marianne (host of Real World Gardener radio show ) is talking with Peter Nixon of Paradisus garden design. www.paradisusgl.peternixon.com.au
Sunday May 22, 2022
Best Climbing Plants on Real World Gardener
Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Climber Heroes
This design series is about plants that are categorised as non-general lines.
Every week I’ve been saying that were talking about plants that you won’t necessarily find in your big box store or possibly even in your nursery so you may have to search for them.
These plants are so worthwhile that because they provide year round interest with their foliage colour, texture and contrast, not just their flowers.
Today perhaps some climbers fit the bill
Peter refers to cool sub-tropical garden or ‘cool sub-trops’ which means that overnight winter temperatures are down to about 5 degrees.
Don’t be put off if you live in a different climate because often plants adapt to a variety of climatic conditions and are worth a try.
Peter mentioned these climbers
-
Conomorpha fragrans often called climbing frangipani although it has nothing to do with the frangipani genus-Plumeria. The flower does look similar to the frangipani flower and are highly scented.Hoya carnosa - vigorous habit requiring a solid support
- in cooler areas plant against a north facing wide. Deciduous in cold areas.
- Dombeya ianthotrycha (tropical garden society of Sydney)-a winter flowering climber with large paper thin leaves. Flower colour is a muted red with a hint of orange. Can be trained as an espalier or a bun shaped shrub.
- Hoya carnosa or wax flower, better in pots with specialised potting mix. If planting in the ground, must have well drained soil.
- TIP: don't cut those flowering spurs off - this
Friday May 20, 2022
Planting for Bright Shade in Garden Design
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Bright Shade Planting
This design series is about plants that are categorised as non-general lines, in other words, plants that are not production grown that then become available in several different sized pots. This series is also about year round interest in the garden even when plants are not in flower. Imagine opening the back door to look at a sea of just green with no distinguishing features! A tad boring don't you think?
Instead, think of plants with different sized and shaped leaves, that might also have contrasting colours.
Plants we mention in this series, you won’t necessarily find in your big box store or possibly even in your nursery so you may have to search for them.
These plants are so worthwhile that because they provide year round interest with their foliage colour, texture and contrast, not just their flowers.
So you’ve got some shady areas that’s under trees. This spot is usually thick with the roots of the trees so will be difficult to plant anything there that will survive the root competition, or will it?
This is where you have to think outside the square and look at plants that don't need to grow in too much soil.
Cryptostephanos vansonii |
Peter mentioned
- Calanthe sylvatica-a ground orchid-good for moist shade
- Philodendron marshalliana-has storage stems and not a climber.
- Syningia bullata and S. Canescens and S. cardinalis other syningia sp-small cordex that can regrow from.
- Cryptostephanos vansoni
I say every week that Peter Nixon, RWG’s contributor for this series, focuses largely on what he calls cool sub-tropical garden or ‘cool sub-trops’ which he refers to often.
Don’t be put off if you live in a different climate because often plants adapt to a variety of climatic conditions and are worth a try.
I'm talking with Peter Nixon of Paradisus garden design. www.paradisusgl.peternixon.com.au
Have a listen to the podcast.
Friday May 20, 2022
Mixed Shrub Borders are in again on Real World Gardener
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
DESIGN ELEMENTS
This is a series about foliage colour and contrast and textural contrast for year round interest. The focus is also on non-general lines instead of production grown planting. In other words, plants that may not necessarily be easy to find but so worth the effort. We kick off the series with mixed shrub borders.
- MIXED SHRUB BORDER
Are they a thing of the past or a living process that still has relevance for the modern smaller garden?
Hibiscus capitolia 'Apricot Sport' |
This kind of design style has been used for hundreds of years because it has great garden appeal. There is no reason for it be considered irrelevant or 'old hat,' simply because it is so adaptable. It can be either formal or informal, full of colour and contrast or not, annuals, perennials and shrubs.
Today though, it's all about the shrubs and is a start of the design series that covers everything from mixed shrub borders, sub-shrubs, climbers, hero trees to best garden bromeliads.
I have to say, Peter Nixon and Real World Gardener's contributor for this series, focuses largely on what he calls cool sub-tropical garden or ‘cool sub-trops’ which he refers to often.
Don’t be put off if you live in a different climate because often plants adapt to a variety of climatic conditions and are worth a try.
Peter mentions the following shrubs as his 'best.'
Posoqueria longiflora |
- Tibouchina multifida-not more than 1.5m in height.
- Hibiscus capitolio 'apricot sport'-double flowering hibiscus, slightly pendulous. 2.5m in height.
- Posoqueria longiflora-commonly called Japanese Needle flower. Has perfumed flowers with a long white tube, height to 3m in semi-shade.
- Brunsfelsia macrantha,
- Acokanthera oblongifolia - Bushmans Poison,
- Gardenia grandiflora ’Star’,
- Rosa sanguineus,
- R. chinensis ’Ten Thousand Lights'
Let’s find out more, I'm talking with Peter Nixon of Paradisus garden design. www.paradisusgl.peternixon.com.au,
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Lemon Verbena in the Kitchen Garden
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
KITCHEN GARDEN
LEMON VERBENA
Did you think that herbs were just for making tea?
Maybe not, but some herbs have endless uses, and this week I’m featuring the herb lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) that’s larger than you would expect to find in a herb garden so probably could fit into the back of a border but in a sunny location.
Lemon verbena photo M Cannon |
- How would I describe the scent of lemon verbena?
What does it look like?
- My plant is quite an old plant that I prune each winter to about 1 metre off the ground.
How to use lemon verbena?
- As a flavouring in kombucha
- Add leaves to a sorbet or ice-cream when making
- Poach stone fruit in a sugar syrup with lemon verbena leaves
- Infuse lemon verbena leaves in olive oil or vinegar-250 ml of olive oil with 6 leaves or to taste
- Fish en papiotte with lemon verbena leaves
Corinne's Top Tip:
Why not try a gin and sonic with muddled lemon verbena. Made with half soda water and half tonic so less calories.
Marianne is talking Corinne Mossati, founder of www.thegourmanticgarden.com
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Phosphorus and Potassium Deficiency in Plants Solved
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Plant Nutrition Deficiencies:Phosporus and Potassium
- In fact there are three major nutrients which are classified as NPK ratio on the back of all fertilisers. So in this part of the blog, we carry on with the two other major or macro nutrients.
Let's look at phosphorus deficiency
- Phosporus is known as a mobile nutrient which can move around the plant to where it's needed.
- Phosphorus deficiency happens more often in cold weather or gardens receive high rainfall, or a combination of both.
- Often affects heavily fruiting plants such as citrus.
- N..B. native plants are highly sensitive to phosphorus, so avoid spreading phosphate fertilisers near these plants.
Let's look at potassium deficiency
I would recommend becoming familiar with the NPK ration on fertilisers, whether organic or not to see if you’re applying the right sort for your plants.
For example, fertilisers that promote flowering and fruiting have higher ratios of potassium than those that are just for general purpose fertilising.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
Nitrogen Deficiency in Plants
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
PLANT HEALTH
Plant Nutrition Deficiencies: Macro Nutrient Nitrogen
The 'Plant health' segment was created for my radio show "Real World Gardener,' as a division of the 'Plant doctor' segment, because I felt that it’s important to focus on what can go wrong with plants that isn’t a pest or a disease.
In the following audio podcasts, you will hear about what to look for in plants that have deficiencies of one of the macro nutrients: Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium; in other words NPK or the macro nutrients.
Gardeners can often see problems appearing first in the colour of the leaves, but this can also be followed closely by lack of vigour, stunted growth and general unthriftiness of the plant.
Macro Nutrient Nitrogen
Listen to the podcast: I'm talking with Kylie Last horticulturist and tafe teacher.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Friday Feb 25, 2022
Brown Rot of Stone Fruit in Plant Doctor on Real World Gardener
Friday Feb 25, 2022
Friday Feb 25, 2022
PLANT DOCTOR
Brown Rot of Stone fruit
There’s plenty of cultivars of stone fruit trees that can fit into any size garden.
Trixie and Pixie dwarf nectarine and peach trees have been around for years.
“There’s even a nectarine tree classed as Super Dwarf called ‘ Peach Sunset” that is grafted onto super dwarfing rootstock to produce a more compact tree growing to around 1.5 m tall.
This Nectarine is self fertile so only one tree is needed.
- But before we get too carried away, what are the cons for growing stone fruit?
- Is deciduous a con? Possibly, because stone fruit tree are deciduous so if you don't like the bare look in winter, stone fruit trees are not for you.
- Do you need two trees for fruit set? Not always so do your homework.
- Preventative spraying for peach leaf curl and brown root of stone fruit may be needed.
- The bad news is, it's too late to do something about it now.
You may even have to open the centre of established trees a bit more than usual to increase air flow.
Still, the fruit I ate off my trees this year were super delicious and well worth growing your own stone fruit trees.
Let’s find out
PLAY: Brown rot of stone fruit_16thFebruary 2022That was Steve Falcioni from www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Rose Geranium Based Drinks in the Kitchen Garden
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Friday Dec 24, 2021
KITCHEN GARDEN
Rose Geranium
Scientific name: Pelargonium graveolens
Family: Geraniaceae
Rose geranium leaves (photo Corinne Mossati) |
Personally I’m a fan of scented plants whether it’s the flowers or the leaves.
I just love to inhale their perfume either by sniffing the flowers or touching the leaves.
This next plant, the rose geranium, is not just your ordinary scented geranium because of its many uses.
Sure you can get by just inhaling the perfume after crushing the leaves but why not think about it’s culinary uses, especially in festive drinks.
First let's talk about the plant.
Rose geraniums are quick growing especially in the warmest months of the year.
Expect this to be a small bush of 1-2-1.5meters with leaves that are soft to the touch, slight hairy and deeply incised as pictured on the right.
Rose geraniums grow best in full sun but can tolerate part shade. Also frost and drought tolerant.
Rose Geranium spritzer (photo Corinne Mossati) |
Keep pruning the leaves to make your rose geranium plant into a tidy compact form, otherwise it will tend to flop over and sprawl a bit.
Don't throw away the cuttings or prunings as all geraniums root easily and quickly.
Just cut a piece or stem of about 5cm long, first removing the bottom two-thirds of leaves. Pop this piece into seed raising mix in a small pot or you can even place cuttings in water.
Rooted cuttings soon grow into plants that make great gifts to give to friends.
But don't waste those leaves, because what better way to use them, than making a rose geranium syrup to pour over ice-cream or a rose geranium spritzer.
Start off with making a rose geranium syrup.
All you need is 1 cup of sugar, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of chopped rose geranium leaves.
I'm talking with Corinne Mossati, founder and editor of Gourmantic Garden and Cocktails and Bars Corinne has provided the links to the recipes below.
Rose Geranium Syrup recipe //www.cocktailsandbars.com/rose-geranium-syrup-recipe/
Rose Geranium Spritzer //www.cocktailsandbars.com/rose-geranium-spritzer/
Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675