Green vegetables are features of the winter garden.
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Peas and kale are two green vegetables that make useful additions to the home garden.
Snow peas and sugar peas should be sown directly into the garden bed or large container where they will eventually grow.
Seeds should be planted 8 to 10cm apart.
In areas of heavier frosts, seeds may be planted initially into pots.
These plants are like garden peas except that they have a softer pod.
This makes them ideal for eating the whole of the pod and seeds.
Supports for the growing plants should be placed out when the seeds are planted as young tendrils will soon appear.
Tree prunings, small twigs, wire netting or strings tied between posts are different ways in which support can be provided.
Cool weather is essential for the successful growing of peas.
It is important to pick the pods regularly, once cropping has commenced, as this will encourage the plants to produce more pods, extending the productive season.
Kale is a green leafy plant that can be used as a nutritious vegetable by itself, or it can also be used as a substitute for cabbage varieties.
It has a strong flavour, although a tomato or cheese sauce used with Kale may mask its flavour.
Kale should be washed well, then chopped finely and steamed.
Plants of kale are easy to grow and will be ready for harvesting in seven to nine weeks from planting. Seeds can be sown in seed trays and planted out in four to six weeks.
They are best planted out before the soil becomes too cold.
Seedlings should be spaced 40-50cm apart.
GORDONIA GLORY
While camellias are familiar to many gardeners at this time of the year, a plant relative, Gordonia axillaris, also produces a most attractive display in the late autumn and early winter months.
The Gordonia is an evergreen large shrub or small tree that is most suitable for growing in smaller gardens or on footpaths.
They produce large pure white flowers with bright yellow stamens above glossy, dark green leaves.
The appearance of the flowers gives plants their common name of ‘Fried Egg Plant.’
Flowers are produced over a long period from autumn to spring.
Plants grow to between three and five metres at maturity, with a similar spread.
However, many specimens are at the lower end of that range. Pruning the plant will promote a denser growth.
The orange-brown bark is a feature of the plant.
Plants are easy to grow although young plants may require some protection from heavier frosts.
When gordonia flowers drop from the bush they land with the stamens facing upwards.
A position of full sun to part shade, in well-drained slightly acidic soil will be preferred.
HYBRID TEA TREES
Hybrid varieties of tea trees (Leptospermum scoparium) flower during winter and spring.
Popular varieties include “Red Damask”, producing double red flowers, and “Lambethii”, which features large pink and red flowers.
Leptospermum polygalifolium “Pacific Beauty” is a weeping variety, growing 1.5 metres high and 2 metres across.
Masses of white flowers are produced on pendulous branches. Leptospermum “Pink Cascade” produces pink flowers in a similar form.
A taller growing variety, reaching up to 4 metres high and 3 metres across is Leptospermum petersonii.
It is a fast-growing screening variety. It is also known as the lemon-scented tea tree as it has leaves that are strongly lemon-scented.
Regular pruning of the plant will maintain fresh, shiny new growth.
Plants should be placed into a position of full sun, in well-drained soil in order to achieve optimal flower production.
However, tea trees are subject to web-borers, which, if left untreated, can eventually have an effect similar to ring-barking of branches and trunks.
These pests will be evidenced by a web that appears to contain a sawdust type material. Because of the protection given to the grub by its web, spraying is generally ineffective. A piece of thin wire, placed into the hole that will be seen under the webbing, will usually locate the grub so that it can be destroyed.
Leptospermum varieties generally flower at their best during the first five years. After that time, it may be necessary to replace them.
TIME TO MOVE
Gardeners sometimes need to move plants that have been growing in a particular position. Winter months are ideal for this take to be undertaken.
Please note that native plants do not often survive being transplanted.
A wide root ball should be taken with the plant, including soil from the surface as this is where most of the roots are situated. The outer stems can be given a light prune.
Once the plant has been placed into its new position, which should be a hole about twice the size of the root ball, good quality soil should be used to fill.
A seaweed solution will help the plant to form a new root system.