Time to protect young plants, prepare for Winter pruning and position your pots in bright light.
Indoor plant of the month
Iron Cross begonia is a fancy leaf begonia that is grown as a decorative houseplant. Originally from China and Vietnam, this begonia gets its name from the dark chocolate centre marking on the leaves that resembles the Iron Cross used on shields during the Crusades.
To bring out its bright green and brown colours, position this begonia where it receives bright filtered light. Keep the soil moist but not wet, and don’t get water on the leaves. When it goes into dormant mode, reduce watering so that the surface of the soil is almost dry before watering again. To provide a humid environment, especially in Winter, place the pot on a gravel-filled saucer that contains water. Details: www.lvgplant.co.za
Herbs to sow in Winter
If you are longing for fresh greens, but it is too cold to sow anything outdoors, sow tasty herbs like chervil, mustard and chives in a window box on a sunny windowsill. If you make a mix of them, they can be harvested as cut and come again baby leaves for garnishes, salads and sandwiches. Fill the window box with a damp seedling mix, sprinkle the seed and cover with a fine layer of seedling mix, gently pressed down so that it makes contact with the seeds. Water lightly and keep the soil damp while the seeds germinate. Mimic a warm greenhouse by covering the window box with plastic clingwrap while the seeds are germinating. It keeps in the heat and moisture. Remove once the herbs have sprouted. Feed with a liquid fertiliser like Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger at half strength once a week.
Good to know: If the window boxes or trays are on the inside of the window, place them a few centimetres away from the glass. Because glass is a heat conductor, the trays might get very cold overnight and burn during the day as the sun shining through the glass gets magnified. Details: www.kirchhoffs.co.za
We’re planting … Primula Acaulis Bonnelli for the dazzling flowers that add pops of colour indoors and outdoors. These cold-hardy little primroses thrive as houseplants if placed in a position that gets bright light (but not direct sun) or as patio plants in hanging baskets or containers. Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy and feed once a month with a liquid fertiliser. Add a splash of colour to small gardens by planting Bonnelli as a border, in Winter sun or semi shade. Plant in fertile soil that drains well and keep the soil moist but don’t over water. Details: www.gropak.co.za
Garden tasks for June
- Water Winter annuals like pansies, violas, cineraria, and primulas once a week and feed every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser to boost their flowering ability.
- Don’t let Spring flowering bulbs dry out. A rule of thumb is to water for 40 minutes every five days but this depends on the soil type and temperatures.
- Fertilise and water Spring flowering shrubs.
- This is the best time to move roses, shrubs and perennials that are in the wrong position.
- Add colourful succulents to the garden as the cold intensifies their many different colours.
- Protect young plants and newly planted shrubs and trees from frost with frost guard cloth. Plants lower to the ground are more vulnerable to frost.
- Sharpen secateurs, long handled loppers, and hedge clippers in preparation for Winter pruning next month. Get the lawnmower serviced and the blades sharpened.
