Shahnee Stockigt, Author at Life is a Garden

Tomatoes

There is just nothing to beat tomatoes in terms of taste, variety and satisfaction. In addition to this, they feature in just about every kind of cuisine, besides being a staple in salads and sandwiches. Tomatoes are easy to grow but they need more care than most other vegetables.

Any sign of insect activity or disease affecting tomatoes needs to be dealt with immediately, otherwise the harvest is affected. Indeterminate varieties need pinching and staking and even determinate varieties can be staked if space is limited. Besides that, however, no pampering is required. This basic guide for growing tomatoes includes some specific, very helpful tips.

Soil

Unlike other vegetables, tomatoes can be grown in the same place year after year, except if last season’s plants were diseased. Tomatoes like a soil which has lime or high calcium, otherwise the fruit itself may split. It is also recommended that you add agricultural lime before planting into your beds. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and lots of compost should be dug into the soil. Raised or mounded beds improve drainage and aeration.

Site and spacing

Tomatoes grow into substantial plants and should be spaced at least 60 to 80cm apart. Rows should be about 1m apart. They do best in positions that get full morning sun and afternoon shade. They can take more sun if there is good air movement otherwise they become susceptible to red spider mite.

Planting

Plant tomatoes ‘deeply’: when transplanting out of a smaller pot or from a seed tray, position the plant in the ground so that the lowest set of leaves is at soil level and press the soil down gently – this produces a sturdy plant. Planting deeply is particularly important if you plant tomatoes in pots – if the plant is not set deep enough, the roots seem to push themselves out of the potting soil.

Strawberries

Who can resist the juicy, sweet, bright fruit of a strawberry?

They are easy and rewarding to grow and will do well amongst other shrubs in a garden bed or in a pot. If you decided to plant your Strawberries in a garden bed, just ensure they are planted in slightly raised mounds to help with drainage.

Strawberries thrive in a well-drained, rich soil and are best in the full sun.

The fruit can be harvested from spring to summer.

Limpopo Stockists:

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – White River

North West Stockists:

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Impatiens Sunpatiens

Easy to Plant. Exceptional Performance.

Garden success has never been simpler with easy-to-plant, easy-to-grow SunPatiens. The thicker petals and tough foliage of these impatiens mean they are less prone to disease, and their strong sturdy stems tolerate high heat and humidity, rain and adverse weather conditions.

Easy to grow
Thrives under heat, humidity, rain or shine
Blooms nonstop
Downy mildew resistant!

SunPatiens® are the first impatiens that actually thrive in full sun to part shade. They grow fast and fill in quickly thanks to their strong, durable root system. Many landscapers, home owners, growers and gardeners love the unstoppable flower power of SunPatiens. Follow these simple guidelines for optimal performance:

Select a site with well-drained soil. Heavy, clay-based soils that retain excess moisture may limit aeration of the roots; amend this problem by adding organic matter to the soil. Bedding Plants are sensitive to soil compaction from heavy foot traffic so avoid stepping in the flower beds after transplanting.
SunPatiens do well in various light exposures, from full sun to partial shade. SunPatiens may be planted under trees with high canopies or on the side of homes where they receive a few hours of direct morning sunshine. Variegated leaf types are great options for heavy shade locations due to the attractive foliage.
During the first few weeks following transplanting it is important to water more frequently until the roots are well established. Until then, plants only have access to moisture in the initial soil ball and may be subject to wilting. SunPatiens will rebound quickly from wilt, however, with the addition of water. To avoid plant damage (leaf and flower burn), water early or late in the day when the plants are not under heat stress.
A light mulch is beneficial in reducing watering frequency, but avoid mounding it up too close to the base of the plants as this could cause stem rot.

Fairy Bells (Dierama pendulum)

A wonderful juxtaposition occurs in the Eastern Cape veld from spring to early summer. Graceful wedding bells or African hairbells start peeking through the brown shades of veld, little treasure mounds of green and mauve that are a sure sign that warmer weather and picnics are on the way!

Dierama pendulum is an indigenous plant grown from corms and found in the Eastern Cape. They are commonly known as African hairbells, Fairy-Bells or Wand-flowers because of their elegant flowering and growth habit.

Dierama pendulum’s graceful wand-like flower stems arch above the leaves and then bear a series of drooping spikes with eye-catching, cup-shaped, flowers.The 5cm long flowers have a soft and delicate, pinkish-mauve colour with gracefully turned-back tips.

Dierama pendulum form evergreen, dense clumps with green, grass-like leaves up to a metre in height. It is best not to disturb the clumps for a good while after planting as dividing the plant earlier could result in it not flowering the next season. Once you have found a suitable position in your garden leave them for at least three flowering season to establish themselves well.

Should you feel the need to tidy up your African hairbells after a few seasons ,do not cut back the green leaves as this retards the growth and flowering simply remove the outer brown leaves by gentle tugging.

Dierama pendulum demand a sunny position in well-drained, composted soil, they will happily grow in boggy conditions but ensure the soil is not waterlogged.

Fairy-Bells enjoy plenty of moisture throughout spring, summer and autumn as this is their growing season. By providing less water in the winter months you will be sure to mimic the Eastern Cape winters and Dierama can then happily continue its dormant period. African hairbells are fairly drought resistant, but will not flower if there is insufficient water.

Calibrachoa

Hundreds and millions of bell shaped flowers on Calibrachoa make it a ‘must have’ trailing ground cover in gardens.

Calibrachoa look similar to Petunia’s and the flowers, while much smaller, look very alike. The plant forms small mounds of leaves with trailing stems that become covered in brightly coloured flowers. Calibrachoa are prolific bloomers from spring straight through to autumn. Pinching them back will ensure a more compact plant growth.

Calibrachoa is an easy gardening favourite to grow. Simply ensure they are in moist but well-drained, organically rich soil and planted in the full sun. Avoid soils with a very high pH. Calibrachoa will tolerate light shade but will not flower as profusely, however plants with some shade will survive longer into the hot summer months. The application of periodic fertilizer will encourage a longer and more prolific flowering period.

Look out for these varieties to brighten up your summer garden:

Calibrachoa Calipetite Blue, Red and Rose. These plants have a higher PH tolerance then other varieties and forms balls of bright colour!
Calibrachoa Callie Coral Pink, Light Blue, Scarlet Red, Sunny Yellow and Star Pink. These plants have a strong mounding habit and have unique markings on the petals
Calibrachoa Conga Pink Kiss, Strawberry Sunburst. An abundance of bright blooms cover these well-branched, trailing plants. They are self-cleaning so they stay neat and tidy all season. Height approximatly 15 – 25 cm
Calibrachoa Superbells Cherry star, Lemon slice, Pomegranate Punch, Coralberry Punch and Double Ruby. Are excellent summer performing annuals and are also self cleaning ( no deadheading )

Calibrachoas trailing habit makes it perfect for use in hanging baskets, containers or as a small area ground cover!

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein