Fact Sheet: The Vegie Patch
Presenter: Tino Carnevale, 10/07/2010
SERIES 21 Episode 21
Tino is planting seeds of Tuscan kale, which is his favourite. He's also sowing seeds of Pentland kale, which has a larger leaf, to compare growth rates. Tino says, "The beauty of growing plants in glasshouses is you're able to regulate the temperature and humidity simply by opening and closing vents. You never get the extremes of temperature, which makes it the ideal space for raising seedlings."
Glasshouses are also great environments for growing plants, such as capsicum and chilli, outside their normal growing seasons. Other plants, such as lemongrass and coffee, can be grown outside their normal climatic zones.
Tino plants seeds of kohlrabi - a variety called 'Purple Vienna,' and a variety of radish known as 'Easter Egg'. As the name suggests the radishes are shaped like eggs and come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, red and lavender.
Currants are great to grow at home because the flavour is incomparable to store-bought. At this time of the year they require a bit of maintenance. Tino begins by pruning the plants.
The branches with dark bark are old wood and the branches with lighter bark are the young wood. Tino prunes the old wood right back. Next, he removes crossing branches - taking out the weaker of the two. Tino says, "I've probably removed about half of this plant. It's a lot neater and there's more room for growth next season."
Many citrus trees have yellowing leaves during winter. This is due to nitrogen and iron deficiencies. This would usually be remedied by feeding them but because that promotes new growth, which is susceptible to frost damage, feeding is to be avoided in cool areas during winter. The best plan of attack is to apply seaweed or worm juice.
Tino reckons the strawberry bed at the Patch is in need of attention. "Strawberries hate competition, so the first thing I'm doing is removing the weeds." Next, Tino removes spent flower stalks and dead or diseased leaves. He then removes the runners close to the parent plant so there's no remaining stem which will rot. The runners can be used to create new plants by placing them in pots or the ground.
Finally, Tino feeds the strawberries with a fifty, fifty mix of blood and bone with sulphate of potash. "I'm putting a small handful around each plant and I'll be set up for my next crop of strawberries."
Information contained in this fact sheet is a summary of material included in the program. If further information is required, please contact your local nursery or garden centre.
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