If you are looking for a little culinary heat, grow radishes in a deep window box on a sunny windowsill or any sheltered, sunny place. Radishes need warm soil for germination so positioning is important. A good option is a Gusta Garden planter with cultivation hood so that growth can be started in a sunny room indoors. The hood provides a warm, moist microclimate and when temperatures rise the planter can be taken outdoors.
Radishes grow so fast that it’s a great way to get kids excited about gardening and growing their own food. Seeds germinate in three to eight days and are ready for picking from three weeks. The nicest radishes are pulled before they are fully grown. Regular watering will produce crisp, tasty radishes but water in the morning so that the leaves are dry by the evening.
Try these:
- Radish Cherry Belle is the perfect quick nibble or salad ingredient. This cherry red radish has snow white flesh.
- Radish Sparkler is round in shape with a deep red colour and a distinct white tip covering the lower part of the root. It is crisp, juicy and solid.
- Radish Watermelon has crunchy white flesh with bright pink to magenta centre. When cut the radishes look like tiny watermelons. The flesh has a mild slightly sweet flavour. Slice thinly to display their vibrant colour.
Details: www.kirchhoffs.co.za and www.rawliving.co.za
We’re planting …calibrachoa Bakari for its fiery, flame coloured flowers that spill over hanging baskets and containers. It’s warm on the eye, just what’s needed to brighten the patio.
This vigorous calibrachoa grows into a mounded and trailing plant, 25 to 40cm high and wide. Make sure it gets plenty of sun to bring out its full colours and keep it sheltered from draughts. Keep the soil lightly moist and feed monthly with a liquid fertiliser for flowers.
Details: ballstraathof.co.za
Garden tasks for July
- Prune bush roses from middle July.
- To prevent frost damage or disease, water plants in the morning so that the leaves are dry by evening.
- Water spring flowering bulbs once a week for at least 40 minutes.
- Cover tender shrubs, flowers and veggies when frost is predicted.
- Strengthen veggies to withstand the cold by feeding with a liquid kelp fertiliser.
Indoor plant of the month
Alocasia Red Secret is one of the more unusual members of the ‘elephant ear’ family. The large heart-shaped leaves have a metallic bronze glow, but its secret is the burgundy red under leaf. It is easier to grow than it looks and its strong point is that it adapts to different light conditions, growing faster with bright light and slower with low light. Water when the soil feels partially dry. This unusual Alocasia originates from Asia and Eastern Australia and is found beneath the forest canopy. Details: lvgplant.co.za
