Category: Plant of the Month

DAPHNE
Daphne is a plant that captures the imagination of gardeners because of its fragrance. There are 50 different species of Daphne throughout the world – some are deciduous and others are evergreen.

Daphne Habits
Daphne are generally neat, compact plants that are at home in dappled shade. Some are erect, while others are rounded or even spreading. The showy rounded heads of the small flowers open from mid-winter to late spring. Depending on the species they can be in delicate shades of white, cream, yellow or pink. Daphne odora has pink and white flowers and there is a variegated form with white flowers, and they’re all fragrant.

Problems
Whilst mostly rewarding plants there are a few things that can go wrong. Look out for leaves that are a very light green. This may indicate the plant needs fertilizing. After flowering is best with a dedicated fertilizer with iron chelates. Often Daphne can suffer from root rot. The plant could easily have been over-watered, and the roots then rot causing the leaves to look bedraggled. Another problem is the leaves may suddenly hang down limply, and feel leathery and dry. Most often, this is caused by over watering. About 20 years ago, there was a Daphne virus, but, with proper hygiene and better plant propagation methods, rarely do you get virus now days. People think that these plants love to be moist all the time, but you should water regularly with dry periods in between depending on heat of course. Use mulch to keep the roots cool.

Watering & Pests
If Daphne are over or under watered, it causes them great stress and that’s when insects like scale, attack. Scale looks like little brown or black dots that appear on the leaves, their undersides, and or the stems. Underneath the scale’s protective helmet is an insect. Just squash them, or smother the scale with white oil or canola oil.

Aspect
Morning sun or an easterly-facing spot. Anywhere that’s got shade from the hot afternoon sun. Don’t forget really good drainage is also important.

Planting and Care
When you’re planting out a potted Daphne, just be careful. The roots should be white and healthy. Try not to damage the roots as you’re planting, so there is no need to tickle them out. Just plant it and mulch to cool the roots. When it finishes flowering in spring, fertilize with organic matter, and prune it at that time too. Keep it mulched and moist over summer.

The rewards of having a happy and healthy Daphne plant become obvious in those months when their lovely scent wafts through your garden. Picking some and placing it in a vase inside will fill the house with perfume. Jim’s Mowing can assist you with planting a Daphne or caring for what you have. They are favored plant on the Jim’s Mowing plant list.

It’s hard to find tomatoes in our house. My son Alex LOVES them and eats the smaller varieties by the punnet-full!
Tomato 1

POPULAR FRUIT
Then again, tomatoes are the world’s most popular fruit! More than 60 million tonnes are produced every year. That’s 16 million tonnes more than the world’s #2 fruit, the banana.
Tomatoes are the fruit of a vine that is native to South America. There are at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes, from small cherry ones to ponderosa, which can weigh over two kilo’s.
It’s hard to find a tomato in our house. My son Alex LOVES them and eats the smaller varieties by the punnet-full!

Then again, tomatoes are the world’s most popular fruit! More than 60 million tonnes are produced every year. That’s 16 million tonnes more than the world’s #2 fruit, the banana.
Tomatoes are the fruit of a vine that is native to South America. There are at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes, from small cherry ones to ponderosa, which can weigh over three pounds.

TEN TIPS IN GROWING TOMATOES.

Don’t crowd seedlings, 300/400 mls between each.
Plant in a place with plenty of light and sun
Feed weekly with a complete liquid fertilizer
Plant them deep, up to first stem to establish a strong route structure.
Mulch to contain moisture and prevent weeds
Remove old bottom leaves as the plant reaches 1 metre, prevents fungal disease
Pinch out suckers in the crotch between stem and branch, to focus plant on fruiting
Deep water at least one inch per week.
Pinch off tips of main stems early summer to increase/assist flowering behavior.
Grow on a truss or cage, assists plant hold the fruit weight.

Tomato Growing

TOMATO NUTRITION
Tomatoes have many nutritional properties to recommend them – including vitamin C, fibre, vitamin A, thiamine, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium – and lots more!

FASCINATING FACT
Nicknamed the “poison apple”, tomatoes were feared for more than 200 years, believed to have caused the deaths of aristocrats who ate them from pewter plates. The real culprit (lead poisoning) wasn’t discovered until centuries later!
(Sources: Wikipedia, smithosonianmag.com)

Tomatoes have many nutritional properties to recommend them – including vitamin C, fibre, vitamin A, thiamine, vitamin E, magnesium, potassium – and lots more!

TOMATO TIP
Tomatoes are best kept unwashed at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Tomatoes that are not yet ripe can be kept in a paper bag until ripe.

TOMATO JUICE
Have you ever tried tomato juice, on a hot day put a few ice blocks in a glass, juice a few tomatoes and you have one of the best thirst quenchers ever and whats more its good for you. Try it you may be surprised!

Correa
Correa is a relatively small genus of endemic plants of some eleven species.Colors can vary and they are hardy and low maintenance. They are mainly prostrate to small or medium shrubs, growing to a height of approximately 2 meters as a general guide with a similar spread. However, one species are aptly known as the “Tree Correa” may achieve a height of 2 to 8 meters with a 2.5-metre spread featuring red, pink or yellow/green tubular flowers.

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Correa can be dubbed the “Bread and Butter” plants of our native flora. Mostly they are easily grown in various soil types in sun or part shade. Once established, plants flower attractively for several weeks from early autumn to late spring.

Correa is the go-to plant for those hard spots when landscaping a new garden. They require little maintenance, can withstand dry periods and enjoy good drainage. Most species will grow under two meters so they are good under windows and won’t obstruct views or light.

Correa generally like to be pruned every year after flowering, this will keep the plant compact and healthy. A light fertilizes with a native fertilizer or blood & Bone will also assist keep the plant looking great.

Read more at the Society for Growing Australian Plants