{"id":9085,"date":"2021-12-03T07:00:25","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T05:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/lowveld\/?p=9085"},"modified":"2024-05-30T16:24:53","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T14:24:53","slug":"december-gardening-happy-holiday-planting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/lowveld\/blog\/2021\/12\/03\/december-gardening-happy-holiday-planting\/","title":{"rendered":"December gardening \u2026happy holiday planting"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re planting \u2026<\/strong>cool blue flowers tough enough to take the heat, crunchy radishes for festive salads, and sunflowers for the kids.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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G<\/strong>arden toughie, Scaevola Bondi\u2122<\/a> Blue takes the heat but keeps its cool, lavender-blue flowers looking fresh throughout summer. Also known as fan flower, it grows best in full sun to partial shade and does well in hot, dry summers. It is a neat garden flower (20cm and 40cm wide) that\u2019s good for edgings, rockeries, and as a ground cover or in hanging baskets and containers. If planted around the edge of a container, it will trail over the edge. Water deeply once a week and don\u2019t over-water. Plants don\u2019t like soggy soil. Snipping off the dead flowers encourages it to flower even more.<\/p>\n

www.ballstraathof.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

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Indoor plant of the month: <\/strong>Do you know how hydrangeas got the name of \u2018Christmas roses\u2019? Quite simply it is because they flower in December in South Africa. Over Christmas they are also sold as indoor plants, standing in as a long-lasting flower arrangement. \u00a0\u2018All Season\u2019s\u2019 hydrangea is a single head hydrangea that produces a long-lasting spectacular bloom in pink or white. The normal multi-flower pink or blue flowering hydrangeas are also available as indoor plants.<\/p>\n

Grown indoors hydrangeas like four hours of bright indirect light a day. The flowers last longer if the plant is kept cool. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Use lime-free water if possible. After flowering the plant can be cut back and planted in the garden.<\/p>\n

www.lvgplant.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n

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Veggie of the month \u2013 radishes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Easy to sow, quick to grow and crunchy to eat, radishes sown at the beginning of December will be harvest-ready for festive salads and skewers over the holiday season. Radish \u2018Sparkler\u2019 (scarlet with white tip) and \u2018Cherry Belle\u2019 are easily available picture packet varieties from Kirchhoffs.<\/p>\n

Growing tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n