“And forget not that the earth delights to
feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”
..Khalil Gibran..
Feature Plant:
Bird of Paradise!
The beautiful Bird of Paradise is truly one of a kind!
Also known as Strelitzia reginae it is an easy low maintenance plant that is great to grow in any garden. With the ability to grow in sandy, loamy soil and near the seaside, this tough plant is also a lover of regular watering to get it’s extensive root system established.
With blue-green leaves resembling those of a banana plant, this wonder comes to life in Spring with a boost of tall stalks displaying an array of striking orange, blue spiked flowers resembling a birds head -hence the name.
A lover of fun sun and growing to a height of around 1.5 metres tall and spreading around 1 or so metres you won’t be disappointed with this South African beauty.
Top Tip: Cut the stalk and flowers in Spring and keep inside for a bright, beautiful floral arrangement!
Feature Product:
Neptune Seaweed Concentrate Liquid!
An all year round seaweed concentrate that improves nutrient uptake, promotes strong root development, flowering and fruiting & builds resistance against pests and disease.
Seaweed plays an important role in the garden. While it will benefit the garden any time of year, it is most useful in times of hot, dry weather or in areas prone to frosts. By helping the development of strong plant cells, regular applications of liquid seaweed builds resistance against disease and helps the plant recover quickly in times of stress.
Seaweed has a broad and balanced range of nutrients, which helps promote early flowering and cropping and increases the sugar content of fruit.
For use on all plants, flowers, lawns, fruit trees, vegetables, palms, shrubs and natives.
Australian Organic registered product, suitable for use on organic gardens and farms.
Available in 1L & 5L bottles, 20L, 200L & 1000L drums
Joan Juler, Gympie, South East Qld
An avid gardener Joan is always outside in her beautiful gardens.
She grows a range of bright, colourful, odd and usual plants ranging from; hibiscus, hydrangeas, orchids, gingers, natives, bromeliads, flowering shrubs & trees as well as hardy succulents and cactus too!
Always on the lookout for new garden tips Joan was recommended Katek Fertilizers at a local store when her plants needed a little something to get them back to health.
‘I have been growing plants and gardening for a long time and I have found that its best to give everything a dose of fertiliser every few weeks and especially after rain. I mostly use Chicken Manure pellets on everything and a bit of blood and bone here and there to keep the flowers blooming and the plants healthy.’
‘I love nature and the wonder of giving my plants a little nourishment and watching them grow into something beautiful – Super Growth has helped a lot with that’.
‘I find that the fertiliser keeps their flowers blooming longer and the plant itself healthy and strong. Since switching to using Katek Super Growth I have found everything has that much needed kick along a lot quicker – even my little plants and cuttings in their pots’.
‘The odd and unusual plants are my favourite and I try to find lots of different ones that work well together with the plants I already have. I do love my garden and seeing the results of my efforts sure brings a smile to my face.’
What to Plant:
Flowers:
Cool Climate/Temperate:
Alyssum Aquilegia Begonia Cineraria Cornflower Delphinium Dianthus Foxglove Geranium Lobelia Nemesia Pansy Polyanthus Poppy Snapdragon Stock Strawflower Viola
Subtropical:
Alyssum Aster Dianthus Gazania Impatiens Marigold Pansy Viola
Tropical:
Ageratum Aster Balsam Crysanthemum Coxscomb Coleus Cosmos Dahlia Dianthus Everlasting Daisy Kangaroo Paw Marigold Petunia Portulaca Salvia Sunflower Torenia Verbena
Vegetables & Herbs:
Cool Climate/Temperate:
Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Mint Pumpkin Spinach Sweet corn Thyme Tomato
Subtropical:
Dill Cabbage Comfrey Lettuce Parsley Sage Spinach Silverbeet
Tropical:
Artichoke Beetroot Celery Lettuce Silverbeet Radish
Super Chicken’s Top Tips!
- It is a great time to plant perennials. Phlox, Asters and Daffodils are a great place to start!
- Give potatoes and sweet potatoes a try this winter, just wait until they start to shoot and cover them with soil.
- Time to give your shrubs a tidy up with a good prune back!
- Indoor plants would love a feed of liquid fertiliser.
- It is a good time to have onions and garlic in the ground, before the winter solstice.