This means that seeds of these vegetables should be planted out at this time of the year. Seeds requiring these conditions for germination include; carrots, cucumbers, parsnip, silver beet and dwarf beans.

Carrots planted out now will be available for harvesting between April and May. Carrot seeds are best sown directly in rows at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. As carrot seeds are rather fine, mixing them with some fine sand will help to obtain a more even distribution of seeds in the soil.

While they are a hardy vegetable, carrots grow better when the ground has not been over fertilised as this can cause the roots of the plants to split.

Cucumbers are best raised from seed that has been planted directly into the garden bed. Some varieties of cucumbers like to climb over a framework while other varieties grow as bushes. Growing plants over a trellis or framework will save space in the vegetable garden. Harvesting should be possible from April.

Humid weather can lead to fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew. This will become apparent as a fine white powdery covering on the leaves. Equal quantities of water and fat-free milk can be mixed together to form a spray, or commercially available products are also available.

Parsnips are more of an old-fashioned vegetable that is valuable for inclusion in winter stews, although they are also most suitable for roasting and including in a traditional roast dinner. Their seeds are similar to carrots and, as for carrots, mixing the seed with sand will help achieve an even distribution. They will be available for harvesting in June.

A pot plant that produces interesting, beautiful flowers, with a minimum of attention is the hoya.

Hoyas are also known as Wax Flowers and can be grown as house plants as well as in bush or green houses.

They also grow very well in sheltered, outdoor areas. 

Hoya carnosa is the most common variety, producing flowers that vary from white through to a delicate pink colour and having a sweet perfume, particularly evident on summer nights.

Hoya australis is a native Australian variety.

Many varieties of hoyas are available, producing flowers ranging in colour from white through to deep crimson.

Flowers are generally produced in clusters of individual blooms and range in size from a couple of centimetres across to about 6 centimetres in diameter.

The individual florets that make up the flowering heads also vary greatly in shape and colour.