Indoor plant of the month
Dracaena Lemon Lime is a striking foliage plant with green and yellow striped leaves. It grows happily indoors in moderate to bright indirect light. It is a cultivar of the Corn Plant and its leaves resemble the leaves of green mealies or sweet corn, just a lot prettier. Dracaena are undemanding, easy to care for plants that like a potting mix that drains well, and watering once the top layer of soil feels dry to the touch. In Summer that’s about once a week. Dracaena are not heavy feeders. A liquid fertiliser at half strength can be applied once a month in Summer. If the plant is growing too tall, cut it back just above a leaf node to encourage shorter, but bushier, fuller growth. Details: www.lvgplant.co.za
Veggie of the month
Radicchio Red Treviso offers something different for the winter salad bowl. This Italian heirloom vegetable has bright red leaves with a white midrib. They are slightly bitter, adding a depth of flavour to salad. Sow seed into a well composted bed that will receive plenty of sun in winter. Space plants 20cm apart. Being shallow rooted, radicchio needs consistently moist soil. If the soil dries out, the leaves can become too bitter. Harvest individual leaves when they are young and less bitter, or wait until the slender cabbage-like head feels firm, about 70 days from sowing. Cut off the head carefully above ground level and it will regenerate. The leaves and head can also be sautéed or steamed. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to four weeks. Details: www.rawliving.co.za
We’re planting … Petunia Strawberry Shake that looks very much like a deliciously forbidden strawberry milkshake. There’s also Blueberry Shake and Raspberry Shake … novelty compact petunias that are perfect for patio containers or hanging baskets and are just as pretty in the garden. Plants grow 20cm high and wide and stay round and neat. They like plenty of sun and pots that drain well. Don’t over water petunias, rather let the topsoil dry out slightly before watering. Feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser to keep the plant in fine flowering form. Details: ballstraathof.co.za
Keep garden fit this month by fertilising and sowing cool seasonal veggies
Towards the end of March sow winter flowering Namaqualand daisies, calendula, Iceland poppies and Shirley poppies. For fragrance there are sweet peas, Virginian stocks, alyssum and nemesia. • Divide perennials like agapanthus, arum lilies, Summer flowering red hot pokers and day lilies that have formed dense clumps. • To keep your lawn green during winter (in gardens sheltered from frost), fertilise this month with 5:1:5 and water regularly. • From this month you can start sowing lettuce and other cool season veggies like broad beans, beetroot, cabbage, carrot, celery, endive, kale, leeks, onion, parsley, peas, radish, spinach and turnips.
