{"id":40297,"date":"2024-07-28T10:01:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-28T08:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/?p=40297"},"modified":"2024-07-22T10:41:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T08:41:37","slug":"rake-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/blog\/2024\/07\/28\/rake-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Rake away!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring is sweeping in so get your garden ready to bloom<\/p>\n

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We\u2019re planting \u2026 Lavender Meerlo<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Lavandula x allardii) which has variegated green and creamy yellow leaves that are unlike the usual silvery green lavenders. The glowing leaves stand out from afar, making it a superb foliage plant for the garden all year round. It grows into a compact bush that also looks good in a container. Like all lavenders, its leaves are very aromatic and it produces light blue flowers in Spring. Plant in sun or semi-shade and in soil that drains well. Once established Meerlo is heat and drought tolerant. Details: ballstraathof.co.za<\/p>\n

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Indoor plant of the month<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brighten the home with pink flowering anthurium<\/strong> for an early Spring feeling in the home. Flower colours include soft pastel pink, warm salmon, bright lipstick pink and showy candy stripe pink and white flowers.\u00a0 Place plants in a warm, bright room and water when the topsoil feels dry. For ongoing flowering, make sure plants receive bright light, remove dead flowers and feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month in Spring and Summer. Details: lvgplant.co.za<\/p>\n

\"\" Veggie of the month<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is an easy-to-grow leafy green that\u2019s hardy and prolific, even during midsummer. Although this tetragonia spinach is not a member of the spinach (beet) family, its tender young succulent-like leaves taste like spinach and can be cooked like spinach. Like spinach, its leaves are full of fibre, antioxidants and Vitamins A and C as well as calcium.<\/p>\n

For Spring sowing<\/strong>, start the seed in seed trays as the soil is still too cool for in-situ germination. Keep the soil moist during germination and plant out seedlings towards end September.\u00a0 Plant seedlings in soil that drains well and in a position that receives plenty of sun, with some afternoon shade. Regular watering and fertilising with produce tasty green leaves. Plants grow about 30cm high and wide. To harvest,\u00a0 snip young leaves or side shoots off the main stem. Regular harvesting encourages plant growth and bushier plants. If left to go to seed, plants will reseed the following Spring. Details: www.kirchhoffs.co.za<\/p>\n

Garden tasks for August <\/strong><\/p>\n